Masato Kigasawa

About the Artist

Creating artwork with techniques that have a history of 200 years

Since glass was introduced to Japan from Europe approximately 200 years ago, the techniques for kiriko (cut glass) have been passed down from generation to generation in Edo and Satsuma. Kigasawa, who has been involved in the reproduction of Edo Kiriko and Satsuma Kiriko and has detailed knowledge of cut glass, has been seeking new possibilities that fit with the times. By deeply cutting the thick glass material, he expresses the reflections of light that are unique to glass as well as the background reflections in a more fascinating way. He has received many awards and his work has been purchased by the Imperial Household Agency.

Biography

• 1962
  Born in Tokyo
• 1984
  Graduated from the Tokyo Glass Art Institute
  Studied under Hideo KOBAYASHI, Edo Kiriko
• 1986
  Selected for the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (selected several times from this year onward)
• 1990
  Cut glass instructor at the Nakano Cultural Center (current Nakano Zero) (~1997)
• 1994
  Evaluator at the 34th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Selected for the Japan Contemporary Glass Art Exhibition
• 1995
  Instructor at Tokyo Glass Art Institute (~2005)
• 1996
  Special Instructor at Meisei University, Faculty of Art and Design (~1997)
• 2005
  Evaluator at the 45th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Evaluator at the 52nd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2006
  Established the Johari Kogeisha Garasubito Workshop
  Evaluator and Judge at the 46th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2007
  Evaluator and Judge at the 21st Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2010
  Evaluator and Judge at the 50th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Evaluator at the 57th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2011
  Art work submitted to the 58th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition purchased by the Imperial Household Agency
• 2012
  Evaluator and Judge at the 52nd East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Selected for "Exhibition of Tea Ceremony Today - Utility and Form"
• 2013
  Evaluator and Judge at the 24th Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Art work submitted to the 60th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition purchased by the Imperial Household Agency
• 2014
  Evaluator and Judge at the 54th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Evaluator at the 61st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2016
  Evaluator and Judge at the 56th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Art work submitted to the 63rd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition purchased by the Imperial Household Agency
• 2017
  Evaluator and Judge at the 26th Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Evaluator at the 64th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2018
  Evaluator and Judge at the 58th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Evaluator and Judge at the 65th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2019
  Evaluator at the 66th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2020
  Evaluator and Judge at the 60th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Becomes Head of Japan Kogei Association Other Crafts Department
  Becomes Director of the Japan Kogei Association
  Second Evaluator and Judge at the 67th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2021
  Evaluator and Judge at the 61st East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Evaluator and Judge at the 28th Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Second Evaluator and Judge at the 68th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Awards

• 1988
  Received the Incentive Award at the 35rd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (selected several times from this year onward)
• 2000
  Received the 40th Anniversary Award at the 40th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Kita Ward Art Society Award at the 49th Kita Ward Art Exhibition
• 2003
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the 19th Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2015
  Received the Incentive Award at the 62nd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Official Site / Social Media etc.

• Official Site