Keiji Onihira

• Category
  Lacquerware
• Techniques
  Maki-e, Mother-of-pearl inlay (Raden), Dry lacquer, Metal sheet inlay, Urushi-e, Eggshell inlay
• Born
  1973 -
• Based in
  Ishikawa
• Membership
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  Member of the "Wajima Lacquerware Techniques Preservation Society", an Important Intangible Cultural Property Preservation Organization

About the Artist

Creating Artwork without Fearing Change

Lacquerware artist Keiji Onihira received the Excellence Award, "70th Anniversary Award" at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, celebrating its 70th year in 2023. Onihira was born and raised in Wajima, where lacquer art is popular, and has been submitting his artwork to the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for many years. He also made the makie fountain pen, and has been developing his makie skills. While valuing the traditional makie techniques, he has been trying new urushi material to produce artwork for the next generation. He not only uses plants and scenery that we see around us as motifs, but also makes artwork with patterns of celestial phenomenons, expressing the universe, auroras, and crepuscular rays. He doesn't fear changes and takes on new challenges.

Style

I create my artwork with lacquer, gold, powder, mother-of-pearl, using various makie techniques.
Many new types of lacquer and pigments are being developed these days. I try to use these new materials and techniques within the traditional artwork, as I believe this will create a new tradition.
With traditional lacquerware at the base, I want to try various motifs and themes to produce artwork that create a special little world or atmosphere.

Biography

• 1973
  Born in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture
• 1991
  Studied under maki-e master KUMANO Sadahisa
• 1998
  Graduated from Maki-e Course, Ishikawa Prefectural Wajima Lacquer Arts Training Institute
  Engaged in reproduction of national treasure, decorated columns of Chuson-ji Temple Konjiki-do
  (golden hall) at Lacquerwork Restoration Office, Tokyo National Museum; collected
  by Tohoku History Museum, Miyagi Prefecture
• 1999
  Engaged in reproduction of the Naijin Makibashira (pillars around the inner sanctuary) of Chūson-ji Temple's Konjikidō (Golden Hall)(National Treasure) at the Tokyo National Museum, Lacquerware Restoration Office
• 2000
  Selected for 17th Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Urushi Works (first time)
  Selected for 47th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition (first time)
• 2009
  Production of Maki-e in cultural human resource development organized by Agency for Cultural Affairs
• 2017
  First-stage evaluator at the 58th Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2018
  "Japanese Lacquerwork" Exhibition at Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum
  "URUSHI Tradition and Innovation" Exhibition at Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, SOGO Museum of Art, MOA Museum of Art
• 2019
  "Soushitsu-kai" Exhibition at JR Nagoya Takashimaya Art Gallery (also submitted in 2023)
• 2021
  Wajima Museum of Urushi Art 30th Anniversary Special Exhibition "Made in Wajima - The Age of Urushi" at Wajima Museum of Urushi Art
• 2023
  Becomes member of the "Wajima Lacquerware Techniques Preservation Society", an Important Intangible Cultural Property Preservation Organization
• 2024
  The Spirit of Noto: Urushi Artists of Wajima & Waves of Resilience
  (Onishi Gallery, New York, US)
  Salon Art + Design, New York, US
• 2025
  Lecture: "Living Traditions: The Past and Future of Kogei"
  (Japan Society, New York, US)
• 2026
  SELECTED  FOR    HOMO FABER 2026 : AN  ISLAND  OF  LIGHT  (Venice)   

Awards

• 2004
  Asahi Shimbun Award, 21st Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2006
  Kanazawa Mayor Award, 47th Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2011
  Kanazawa Mayor Award, 52nd Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Japan Kōgei Association Incentive Award, 58th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2018
  Ishikawa Prefecture Culture Awards – Public Recognition Prize
• 2023
  70th Anniversary Award, 70th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Public Collections

• Agency for Cultural Affairs