Masato Ichikawa

About the Artist

The Aesthetic World of Woodwork

Woodwork artist Masato Ichikawa mainly creates artwork using a technique called wood joinery, a technique to assemble wood parts with joints. Ichikawa started studying wood joinery on his own, and submitted to various exhibitions. In 2014, he received the New Artist Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where craft artists representing Japan gather. He is highly evaluated for his artwork paying careful attention to detail to make the most of the beauty of wood. In his recent years, he has been focusing on colors of the wooden material. He uses the marquetry technique, which is combining wood parts of different colors to create patterns, and is expanding his range of expression.

Style

Producing mainly wood joinery items. I produce my artwork to make the most of the beauty of wood. Recently, I am not only focusing on wood grain and wooden features but also on colors. I am trying to add colors to the mainly brown woodwork by adding marquetry inlays of different colors.

Biography

• 1951
  Born in Saku City, Nagano Prefecture (Current Sakuho Town)
• 1975
  Graduated from Shizuoka University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering
• 1976
  Hired as a teacher in Kyoto to teach woodwork at a special needs school
• 1983
  Established studio at home, and started teaching himself joinery
• 1985
  Selected for the Kyoto Kōgei Art Exhibition
• 1987
  Entered the Kenkichi Kuroda Woodworking School and studied hollow work and wiped urushi techniques
• 1992
  Selected for the Kyoto Kogei Biennale
• 1999
  Established studio in Sumiyama, Uji City
• 2004
  3-men exhibition at Lucite Gallery, Tokyo
• 2006
  Selected for the Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2008
  Resigned from teaching in order to devote himself to woodwork
• 2011
  Studied kyushitsu under lacquerware artist Yuji Iwabuchi
  Selected for the Wood and Bamboo Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time
• 2012
  2-men exhibition at Lucite Gallery, Tokyo
  Selected for the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time, selected consecutively from this year onward
• 2013
  Sadahide Chiyozuru and Masato Ichikawa 2-men Exhibition in Kyoto
• 2015
  Becomes Full Member of the Japan Sencha Kōgei Association
• 2022
  Evaluator at the 51st Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Solo exhibition at Kyoto Station Porta Gallery "Hana"

Awards

• 2012
  Received the Grand Prix at the 1st Bowls Exhibition "The Bowls 2012"
• 2013
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Kinki Branch Manager’s Award at the 42nd Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Kyoto Shimbun Award at the 27th Japan Sencha Kōgei Exhibition
• 2014
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association New Artist Award at the 61th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the MEXT Award at the 28th Japan Sencha Kōgei Exhibition
• 2016
  Received the Kyoto Governor Award at the 30th Japan Sencha Kōgei Exhibition
• 2020
  Received the All Japan Senchado Federation Award at the 34th Japan Sencha Kōgei Exhibition
• 2021
  Received the Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education Manager Award at the 50th Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the 18th Wood and Bamboo Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the All Japan Senchado Federation Award at the 35th Japan Sencha Kōgei Exhibition
• 2022
  Received the Japan Sencha Kōgei Association Award at the 36th Japan Sencha Kōgei Exhibition
• 2023
  Received the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Award at the 19th Wood and Bamboo Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Kyoto Governor Award at the 37th Japan Sencha Kōgei Exhibition
• 2024
  Received the MEXT Award at the 38th Japan Sencha Kōgei Exhibition
• 2025
  MOA Museum of Art Award, 20th Wood and Bamboo Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Official Site / Social Media etc.

• Official Site
• Facebook