Hiroyuki Nishimura
Oiso, Japan

B. 1960
2008 FOUNDED STUDIO
WOODCARVER

Hiroyuki Nishimura creates one-of-a-kind stools out of Zouki – reclaimed wood from felled and abandoned trees – found on the Shonan and Izu Penisula of Japan. At his outdoor studio overlooking the sea, Nishimura dynamically carves, whittles, and sculpts using a chainsaw, working with and against the unique form and vigor of each tree to imaginatively shape his functional sculptures. As they are living things, cracks in the wood may widen over time. Born in Osaka, Nishimura attended the Tokyo University of the Arts and opened his own studio, Zougei Inc. in 2008. He has enjoyed many solo exhibitions throughout his career and won numerous awards including the prestigious Grand Prize Award at the 10th Oita Asian Sculpture Exhibition.