Masahiro Sasaki

1953 -
  • Lacquerware
  • Price Range $14,000 - 28,000
    Info

    The prices of the artworks on Gallery Japan are determined by the artists themselves and are published directly on the website.

    close
  • Awards at Japan Kōgei Assoc. Exhibitions : 8

Purchase artwork, commission work, check artworks available for purchase, etc.

    • Category
      Lacquerware
    • Techniques
      Kinma, Dry lacquer, Lacquered bamboo
    • Born
      1953 -
    • Based in
      Kagawa
    • Membership
      Full member, Japan Kogei Association
      Holder of Intangible Cultural Property of Kagawa Prefecture for "Kinma"
      Secretary General of the Japan Kōgei Association Shikoku Branch
    Masahiro Sasaki

    About the Artist

    The Beauty of Kinma that Lives on Today

    Lacquer artist Masahiro Sasaki infuses new life into the traditional technique of Kagawa lacquer art, kinma by shading and making gradations with colored lacquer, and creates his original world of art. The process of Kinma is usually applying layers of a single colored lacquer, carving the patterns, inlaying colored lacquer and polishing. However, Sasaki starts by using a number of colored lacquer and applying them on the base coat to create a gradation. After drying, he then carves out the patterns and inlays colored lacquer into the carvings several times. With this meticulous process, exquisite tones of color and delicate gradations are created. This profound beauty is proof of his outstanding skills and creativity, and his artwork is highly evaluated among lacquer art collectors in Japan and overseas.

    Style

    SASAKI applies bokashi-nuri (shading) for a finish coat and expresses patterns with fine line carving, and uses the kinma (incised and color-filled decoration) technique to inlay the patterns and give gradation in the color.

    Biography

    • 1977
      Received the Excellence Award for graduation work at Musashino Art University
    • 1979
      Completed the Master's Degree Program at Musashino Art University Graduate School of Art and Design
    • 1983
      Selected for the first time at the 30th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    • 2007
      Specially invited to the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    • 2009
      Evaluator for the 26th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (also in 2013 and 2016)
      Designated as Holder of Intangible Cultural Property of Kagawa Prefecture for "Kinma"
    • 2011
      Received the Kagawa Prefecture Cultural Arts Award
    • 2014
      Evaluator for the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    • 2021
      Awarded as Kagawa Prefecture Person of Cultural Merits

    Awards

    • 1990
      Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the 7th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (also in 2006)
    • 1999
      Received the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Award at the 16th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (also in 2005)
    • 2000
      Received the Japan Kogei Association Award at the 17th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    • 2008
      Received the Tokyo Governor Award at the 55th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    • 2011
      Received the Japan Kogei Association Incentive Award at the 58th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
    • 2022
      Received the MITSUI Golden Takumi Award

    Public Collections

    • Takamatsu Art Museum
    • The Kagawa Museum
    View All 22 Artworks byMasahiro Sasaki