Biography

 

 

  Gen Saratani is a New York-based artist who works exclusively with the organic materials found in the traditional fine arts of Japan.

  Following high school and college studies in the arts in Japan, where he grew up, he served a three-year apprenticeship with his father, Tomizo, a lacquer artist, and a two-year apprenticeship in the study of maki-e under Akira Takeda in Kyoto. He currently lives and works in New York as a only Urushi master in the country.

  In addition to his own work as an artist, he has conserved thousands of works of art and lectured, led workshops, or given demonstrations on working with lacquer, conservation and Kintsugi at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Art and Design, the Fashion Institute of Technology, Parsons School of Design, and numerous other organizations. 

 

  Known as a pioneer in the popularity of kintsugi in recent years, he has created numerous artistic kintsugi works and also trained and produced many kintsugi artists in New York, the United States, and abroad.

​

​

【Exhibition】        

• "Tama" at Yoshii Gallery, NYC in 2021-2022

• "Food" at Yoshii Gallery, NYC in 2019 - 2020

• "Maki-e Sculpture" at Yoshii Gallery, NYC in 2019   

• "The Authentics of Restoration" at Sara Japanese Pottery, NYC in 2014

 

【Art Work collection】        

• "Butterfly" at THE SHINMONZEN in Kyoto

 

【Restorations】

• The Prince Takamado Imperial Collection

• Christie's New York

• Bonhams New York and London

• Sotheby's New York and London

​

【Events】

• "RESTORATION: THREAD & GOLD at Yale New Haven Health Greenwich Hospital in 2022

• Kintsugi session at Chloé in 2022 Fashion week

• Maki-e lecture and workshop at The Nippon Club in 2018

• Open studio at MAD museum of arts and design in 2016

• Kintsugi workshop for conservators of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2014

 

【Lectures】

• Persons Fashion, Art and Design School in 2020, 2018, 2017, 2015

• Smith College Museum of Art in 2017

• NYU students studio visit in 2016

• Diverse Techniques of Asian Arts and Crafts of FIT in 2016

• Sogetsu New York in 2016

• Urasenke Chanoyu Center of New York in 2014

• Chado Urasenke Tankokai Philadelphia Association in 2014

​

【Publications】​

• NOBU HOTELS MAGAZINE 1st Issue in 2022

• EXTRA BUTTER in 2022

• Yale New Haven Health Greenwich Hospital in 2022

• Brut.  in 2020   (French version is here)

• Artsy  in 2018

• GEAR PATROL in 2016

• Made in NY in 2016

​

【Kintsugi classes】

• The classes are held constantly (See Kintsugi Class)

• Makari in 2017

• Atelier Mu:min in 2015, 2016

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2014

• Keisuian in 2014

​

​

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​