Kenta Hirai

Kenta Hirai brings the mastery of traditional woodworking and a refined design sensibility into contemporary sculpture. In dialogue with Yoshino cedar, his organic forms seem to breathe from within.

Born in Shizuoka, Japan · Based in Nara, Japan

Kenta Hirai creates sculptural works from Yoshino sugi, a Japanese cedar prized for its fine grain, regular growth rings and subtle variations in colour. Combining mastery of woodworking with a refined design sensibility, he explores the expressive possibilities of wood through form and movement. Working with ultra-thin layers of cedar, just 1.5 mm thick, he assembles and curves them by hand, without moulds or heat. Guided by the material, his gestures shape organic forms that seem to breathe and vibrate from within, revealing a subtle balance between mastery and freedom. Each piece is unique, shaped through a spontaneous dialogue with the wood.

After graduating from Kyoto University of Art and Design, he worked as an architectural designer before training in traditional woodworking in Hida Takayama. He later spent three years at Joseph Walsh Studio in Ireland before returning to Japan in 2017 and establishing his own studio in Nara.

Living in the heart of the Yoshino forest, Kenta Hirai maintains a close relationship with the material that defines his practice. Rooted in a centuries-old woodworking tradition, his work develops a distinctly contemporary artistic language. His sculptural seat Yoshino 1Seater, awarded the JCPP Grand Prix in 2024, was presented at Expo 2025 Osaka. He has also collaborated with architects, including Kengo Kuma.

Further information and selected exhibitions available upon request.