Chihiro Onuma

Style

Using things in nature and scenery such as the flow of rivers, waves and plants, as well as geometric patterns for designs.

Biography

• Studied under hammering artist Shiro Sekiya (Holder of Important Intangible Cutural Property)
  Held solo exhibitions twice ('80 and '15)
• 1950
  Born in Tokyo
• 1970
  Graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan Kogei High School, Metalwork Department
  Submitted to the 17th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time (Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store)
• 1971
  Submitted to the 11th Traditional Kōgei New Works Exhibition (current East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition) for the first time (Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store)
  Submitted to the 1st Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time (Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store)
• 1975
  Visited Georg Jensen A/S (Copenhagen, Denmark)
• 1978
  Becomes independent and starts producing artwork
• 1987
  Submitted to the Traditional Kōgei Selection Exhibition as a supporting member (Yokohama Mitsukoshi)
• 1989
  Submitted to the Toyama Traditional Kōgei Exhibition as a supporting member (Takaoka Art Museum)
  Submitted to the Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Selection Exhibition as a supporting member (Tsubame Industrial Materials Museum)
• 1990
  Submitted to the World of Tea Ceremony Exhibition held at the Omiya Museum of Art (currently closed) as a supporting member
  Submitted to the Metalwork Exhibition held at the Museum of Sword Fittings (currently closed) as a supporting member
• 1997
  Evaluator at the 27th Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (also in '16)
• 2007
  Metalwork article published in "Weekly Living National Treasures" (Asahi Shimbun Publications)
• 2009
  Assistant at the ”hammering" successors training program held by Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property, Hoseki Okuyama ('10)
  Opened new studio (18-po) (– '13)
• 2012
  Evaluator at the 52nd East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (Traditional Kōgei New Works Exhibition)
  Examiner for practical skill examination of the traditional craftsman certification examination (delegated by the Tokyo Gold and Silver Vessel Industry Cooperative Association)
• 2013
  Judge for the All Japan Gold and Silver Exhibition (delegated by the Tokyo Gold and Silver Vessel Industry Cooperative Association) ('15 '19)
  Opened new studio (18-po+)
  Part-time lecturer at Tokyo Metropolitan Kogei High School Evening High School, Art Craft Department (after working at Tokyo Metropolitan Kogei High School from 1980 to 2011)
• 2015
  Lecture on Shiro Sekiya at "The Techniques and Beauty of Japan" exhibition held at the Akita Seshu Museum of Art and Akarenga-kan Museum
• 2016
  Assistant at the ”hammering" successors training program held by Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property, Toshichika Taguchi ('17)
• Photos of artwork published in the following:
  Traditional Kogei Today published by Kodansha ('83)
  Pattern Notebook, Basics and Application published by Visual Design Laboratory ('87)
  Tea Ceremony Artists Series – Metalwork published by Tankosha
• 2023
  Evaluator and Judge at the 63th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Awards

• 1972
  Submitted to the Shinsho Kogei Exhibition and received the Incentive Award twice (up to '76)
• 1974
  Received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award at the 4th Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition ('98)
• 1978
  Received the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Award at the 8th Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1995
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Award at the 25th Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition ('96 and '00)

Public Collections

• Four pieces of artwork scheduled to be added to the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art