Born in Tokyo in 1946, in the immediate aftermath of World War II, Yoichi Ohira is widely celebrated as a contemporary glass artist whose work bridges the aesthetics of two distinct cultural traditions: the refined craftsmanship of Japanese applied arts and the vibrant, colour-rich world of Murano glassmaking.
After studying at the Tokyo University of the Arts and furthering his training at the Venice Academy of Fine Arts, Ohira established himself in Italy, where he has spent the greater part of his career. Deeply inspired by the centuries-old traditions of Venetian glass, he developed a unique style that harmonises bold Muranese colouration with the minimalism, balance, and quiet precision characteristic of traditional Japanese design.
In the 1980s, Ohira was appointed Artistic Director at the De Majo glassworks in Murano—one of the island’s most respected glassmaking houses. During his tenure, he refined both his technical approach and conceptual direction, working closely with master glassblowers and fusing Italian craftsmanship with his own distinct vision.
In 1992, Ohira launched an independent practice, allowing him to focus exclusively on limited-edition glass vessels that blur the boundaries between sculpture and functional art. Each piece is meticulously designed and produced in collaboration with Venetian artisans, often incorporating mosaic-like patterns, layered transparencies, and intricate surface treatments that reference both Japanese lacquerware and classical Murano techniques.
Today, Yoichi Ohira’s work is held in prestigious museum collections and continues to command strong interest among collectors of contemporary studio glass, Murano art glass, and East–West design fusion. His vessels stand as meditations on material, memory, and cross-cultural beauty—timeless yet entirely modern.
