Akira Watanabe

  • Glasswork
  • 1959 -
Akira Watanabe

WATANABE mainly works with the kiriko (cut) technique; however, he has also developed his own unique layering technique, in which powdered gold, colored glass grains or the like are dusted between several glass sheets to give a decorative effect; the sheets are then fused by using an electric furnace to create the base material with patterns of light captured inside the glass.

Membership Full member, Japan Kogei Association
Director, Japan Kogei Association
  • 1959 Born in Kobe City
  • 1984 Graduated from Kyoto University
  • 1989 Studied at the Glasfachschule Kramsach, Austria
  • 1996 TANKO Biennale Tea Ceremony Art Open Call Exhibition
  • 2006 Evaluator at the 53rd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2008 Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
  • 2009 Designated as a Kyoto Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property Holder for “Kiriko Glass"
  • 2010 “About the Tea Ceremony – A Viewpoint on Contemporary Kogei" (National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo)
  • 2013 “Tradition and Creation – By Kyoto Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property Holders-" (Museum of Kyoto)
  • 2013 “From Crafts to Kogei – In Commemoration of the 60th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition" (National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo)
  • 2017 Evaluator at the 64th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, art work purchased by the Imperial Household Agency
  • 2019 The 21st Mokichi Okada Award Exhibition at the MOA Museum of Art

  • 1992Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the 8th Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    Received the Japan Kogei Association Chairman Award at the 39th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 1994Received the Osaka Board of Education Award at the 23rd Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 1995Received the Incentive Award at the 24th Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 1996Received the Kinki Award at the 25th Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2004Received the Japan Kogei Association Chairman Award at the 51st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  • 2007Received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award at the 21st Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Price Range

$ 11,000 - 26,000

15 artworks posted