Hiroshi Yamano

One of Japan’s leading figures in glass art, Hiroshi Yamano is known for his diverse skills and innovative surface applications. Drawn to nature, specifically near his home in the countryside, Hiroshi uses the fish as his personal symbol to describe his journeys from Japan to America, traversing the oceans. Most recently he has been focusing on his homeland and has included native birds to complete his his Scenes of Japan. Hiroshi is co-founder of Ezra Glass Studio in Japan and chairman of the glass department and head of the craft department at Osaka Art University. Mr. Yamano’s work is exhibited widely in the U.S. and abroad and is included in many museum and public collections.

“Japan is a country that has four distinct seasons, and the seasons have traditionally been a popular subject in Japanese art. An appreciation of the changing seasons also permeates popular culture, as people take the time to enjoy scenes of natural beauty at different times of the year, to eat seasonal foods and to decorate their homes with objects that reflect the changing seasons. I, too, have a strong awareness of the natural world that surrounds me. As I grow older, I find myself wanting to spend more time in nature for the peace of mind that it brings to me. I value the simplicity and quiet that I encounter there, surrounded by the beauty of the Japanese landscape. My art is a reflection of that beauty; nature is the source of my creativity. In my work, I want to interpret the feelings and sensations of having a close connection to nature, and through it share the beauty of the changing seasons in Japan with the viewer.”