Kenta Hirai

Kenta Hirai brings together fine woodworking craftsmanship and a refined design sensibility, creating sculptures and functional pieces shaped by a sculptural approach. A graduate of Kyoto University of Art and Design, he trained in traditional woodworking techniques in Hida Takayama before further developing his practice at the Joseph Walsh Studio in Ireland. He returned to Japan in 2017, where he established his own studio and continues to create today.

At the heart of his practice lies Yoshino sugi - Japanese cedar with a fine grain and subtle tonal variations. Worked into extremely thin layers of around 1.5 mm, laminated and then slowly hand-curved without moulds or heat. A dialogue takes shape between hand and material, giving rise to organic forms that seem to breathe from within, revealing a subtle tension between mastery and release.

Living in the heart of the Yoshino forest, Kenta Hirai is in daily connection with nature and in continuous dialogue with sugi. For him, working with this emblematic wood is both an anchoring in a centuries-old tradition and an opening toward a contemporary expression. His work has led him to collaborate with contemporary architects, including Kengo Kuma, and his sculptural seat, “Yoshino 1seater”, awarded in Japan in 2024, was presented at the Osaka World Expo in 2025.

Further information and selected exhibitions available upon request.