Akira Shirahata

• Category
  Glasswork
• Techniques
  Kiriko cut glass
• Born
  1946 -
• Based in
  Saitama
• Membership
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  Vice Chairman of the Saitama Prefecture Artists Association
  Member of the Japan Glass Artcrafts Association

Style

Combining surface grinding and kiriko (cut glass). He focuses on the "form", and thoroughly polishes the glass to bring out its charm.

Biography

• 1946
  Born at Habu Port, Oshima Town, Tokyo
• 2005
  Solo Exhibition "Glass Sanka" at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi ('08 '11 '14 '18)
• 1965
  Joined Hoya Glass (current HOYA Corporation) after graduating from Tokyo Metropolitan Oshima High School and learned cut glass techniques
• 1971
  Took a leave of absence from his job and traveled to Europe for a year (left HOYA in 1992)
• 1974
  Submitted to and selected for the first time at the 21st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, selected every year from this year onward
• 1975
  Submitted to and selected for the first time at the 15th Traditional Kōgei New Works Exhibition, selected every year from this year onward
• 1983
  Submitted to the 1st Nationally Selected Traditional Craft Artists Exhibition ('84)
• 1984
  Submitted to the Glass in Japan Exhibition (Japan Glass Artcrafts Association Exhibition), submitting every year from this year onward
• 1985
  Submitted to the 2nd World Glass Now Exhibition at Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art
  Glass in Japan Exhibition at Kunsthalle Karlsruhe
  "A Panorama of Contemporary Art in Japan - Design of Daily Life" Exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, Toyama
• 1988
  Glass in Japan Exhibition at Museu de Arte de São Paulo
• 1990
  Invited to submit to Glass Art ’90 at the Hakone Open-Air Museum
  Invited to the International Garden and Greenery Exposition, Osaka, Japan, 1990
• 1991
  Glass Japan Exhibition at Heller Gallery (NY, USA)
• 1997
  "2000 Years of Japanese Glass: From the Yayoi Period to the Present Day" at Suntory Museum of Art
• 2000
  Japanese Contemporary Glass Art Exhibition (Onoda City 60th Anniversary Project) - 60 Flag-Bearers of the New Century
• 2003
  Japan's Traditional Art Crafts A 50-Year Retrospective
• 2004
  Judge at the Asahi Modern Craft Exhibition ('05)
• 2008
  Judge at the 20th Edo Kiriko New Works Exhibition ('09 '10 '11)
• 2012
  20 Artists to Forge the Future of Fine Arts and Crafts published by Ribbun Shuppan Co., Ltd.
• 2013
  From Crafts to Kōgei In Commemoration of the 60th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• 2017
  Artwork chosen as one of the "83 Selected Treasures of the Heisei Era" and dedicated to Yakushiji Temple in commemoration of the repairing of the East Pagoda
• 2018
  Participated in the production of the reliquary at National Treasure, Yakushiji Temple East Pagoda

Awards

• 1975
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Tokyo Branch Award at the 15th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Incentive Award at the 22nd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Incentive Award at the 2nd Musashino Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1982
  Received the Saitama Prefecture Artists Association Chairman Award at the 32nd Saitama Prefectural Art Exhibition
• 1984
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the Glass in Japan Exhibition
• 1992
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Important Intangible Cultural Asset Holder Award at the 39th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1996
  Received the Incentive Award at the Tanko Biennale Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition
• 2006
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Important Intangible Cultural Asset Holder Award at the 53rd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2011
  Received Award for Meritorious Achievement in Education by Saitama Prefecture
• 2013
  Received the 56th Saitama Cultural Award in the Art Division
• 2017
  Received the The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette