Mina Okui

1970 -
  • Lacquerware
  • Awarded 6 times at the Japan Kōgei Assoc. Exhibition
  • Price Range $5,500 or more
    Info

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  • Category
    Lacquerware
  • Techniques
    Dry lacquer, Lacquering, Urushi-e
  • Born
    1970 -
  • Based in
    Kanagawa
  • Membership
    Full member, Japan Kogei Association
    Director of the Japan Cultural Property Lacquer Association

About the Artist

Creating Pure Lacquer Art that Empathize with Our Hearts

Lacquer artist Mina Okui creates forms freely using the dry lacquer technique where layers of hemp cloth and lacquer are applied to make the base form. Okui's artwork, with gentle curves and smooth and glossy lacquer that brings out the charm of the forms, has received many awards including the Japan Kōgei Association President Award at the 64th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 2017. In 2020, she received the Medal with Purple Ribbon, a medal awarded to those who have made distinguished contribution in the art field, and gathered much attention. Okui says, "I want to create beautiful forms that make people feel comfortable. " Her artworks that empathize with our hearts charm many of her fans in Japan and overseas.

Style

I want to make pieces that can only be made with wiped urushi lacquer; clear and easy to understand pieces that only I can make, and express the color and luster of urushi lacquer.

Biography

  • 1970
    Born in Kanagawa Prefecture
  • 1992
    Graduated from Tokyo Woman's Christian University
  • 2001
    Graduated from Lacquering Course at the Ishikawa Prefectural Institute of Wajima Lacquer Arts
    Studied under Kazumi Murose (– 2009)
  • 1999
    Selected for the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2003
    Selected for the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2020
    Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon

Awards

  • 2006
    Received the Japan Kōgei Association Award at the 46th Traditional Kōgei New Works Exhibition
    Received the Tokyo Governor Award at the 53rd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2010
    Received the 50th Anniversary Exhibition Award at the 50th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2012
    Received the Incentive Award at the 52nd East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2017
    Received the Japan Kōgei Association President Award at the 64th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2023
    Received the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Award at the 40th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
View All 16 Artworks byMina Okui

Four-petaled flower Kaguwashi II Glass, lacquer, metal, wood

Group exhibition featuring four different materials: glass, lacquer (Mina Okui), metal (Takahiro Ieide), and wood (Akio Watanabe).