Ryuji MITANI
Wood Designer
Born in Fukui Prefecture in 1952. In 1981, he established PERSONA STUDIO in Matsumoto City. Mitani began his creation of butter cases, wooden spoons and wooden bowls for daily use, with the aim of creating items that impact on life. His work at this time was focused around sculpting and the potter’s wheel. In 1996, he began applying lacquer to his creations, along with an oil finish.
Keisuke IWATA
Ceramic Artist
Born in Soeda-machi, Tagawa-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture in 1954. Graduated from Nihon University College of Arts in 1977, and from the Tajimi Technical High School in 1978. Following this, he studied under Mr. Goro Kawamoto in Seto until 1983, when he opened his own kiln and went independent.
Michiko IWATA
Artist
Traveled to Europe in 1979; while visiting numerous are museums, she studied sketching and copperplate engraving in England and Italy. Upon her return to Japan from around 1990, she began her creation of box artworks using recycled paulownia boxes. In recent years, Iwata has focused on creating pieces utilizing articles she has found and things that are no longer wanted.
Kazumi TSUJI
Glass Artist
Established the glass atelier factory zoomer in 1999, after having graduated from California College of Arts. She designs and creates works in pursuit of a new standard in glassware. As an artist, she expresses the distortions and dangers inherent in everyday life.
Akiko ANDO
Glass Artist
Born in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, in 1965. Began thinking about her own life as it related to clothing; began creating her own original sarongs (tubular skirts) and upper garments under the concept of “clothing of a fixed form utilizing fabrics from all times and places that can be worn for a long time irrespective of age, gender or body shape” in 1994.
Masanobu ANDO
Ceramic Artist
Born in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture, in 1957. Started with creating contemporary art, then resided in India, where he studied Tibetan Buddhism; following this, he shifted his attention to the creation of pottery. In 1998, he dismantled and reconstructed an old tea-ceremony style Japanese house, and opened Gallerie Momogusa, a living space in which to showcase artworks.