Akiko Tsuruta

About the Artist

A New Frontier of Hyōmon

Lacquer artist Akiko Tsuruta studied under Shogyo Oba, designated as Living National Treasure for his makie techniques. She mainly uses the hyōmon technique, which is inlaying thin gold and silver sheets to make patterns, and creates lacquerware making the most of the beauty of the material. She was selected for the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition and Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time in 1990, and she received the Tokyo Governor Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 1994. Tsuruta's works are characterized by her modern color sense and designs combined with traditional, elegant hyōmon. She has also been learning woodwork techniques since 2017, and her constant pursuit of evolution truly embodies tradition and evolution.

Biography

• 1966
  Born in Ishikawa Prefecture
• 1987
  Graduated from Kyoto Saga University of Arts Junior College, Japanese Paintings Department
• 1990
  Selected for the 7th Lacquerware Traditional Kogei Exhibition for the first time
  Selected for the 37th Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition for the first time
• 1991
  Selected for the 32nd Traditional Kogei Exhibition Ishikawa Branch for the first time
• 1993
  Becomes full member of Japan Kogei Association
• 2012
  First solo exhibition at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Tokyo
• 2017
  Studies woodworking as 7th generation student of the Rare Traditional Industry Woodworking School of Kanazawa City
• 2018
  URUSHI Tradition and Innovation Exhibition at Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
• 2019
  URUSHI Tradition and Innovation Exhibition at Sogo Museum of Art in Yokohama and MOA Museum of Art

Awards

• 1992
  Received Incentive Award at the 33rd Traditional Kogei Exhibition Ishikawa Branch
• 1994
  Received Incentive Award at the 35th Traditional Kogei Exhibition Ishikawa Branch
  Received the Tokyo Governor Award at the 41st Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition
• 1996
  Received Incentive Award at the 37th Traditional Kogei Exhibition Ishikawa Branch
• 2021
  Received the Hokkoku Shimbun President Award at the 77th Kanazawa Craft Exhibition