At Kohei Nawa’s studio, the world is seen through glass bubbles

Sculptor Kohei Nawa's first solo show in Los Angeles debuts 20 new artworks this month
By Jennifer Pastore
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Threads
Email
Print
Bookmark story
Copy link
Kyoto –
Inside Sandwich, artist Kohei Nawa’s Kyoto studio, taxidermied deer stand alongside sneakers, a camcorder and an antique chair — a menagerie of objects awaiting transformation
Nearby, finished pieces — a biwa lute, an owl and stacks of photographs — are covered in transparent beads that render them in magnified detail
“I just happened to find this place,” says Nawa of his studio, a former sandwich factory located on the outskirts of the city, near the Uji River
Dressed sharply in a hunter-green suit, Nawa, 51, stands in front of a black van freshly decaled with slanted silver stripes, echoing the sharp geometry of his “Direction” ink paintings.

Nawa’s art, design and architecture atelier, which opened in 2009 and now employs around 50 people, is bustling
At the time of this interview in late March, the team was wrapping up preparations for “Photon Camp,” Nawa’s first Los Angeles solo exhibition at the multinational blue-chip gallery Pace
The show opened April 11, presenting 20 new works from his signature “PixCell” series — sculptures featuring various items covered in glass beads — and “Prism,” a subset of “PixCell,” in which objects in transparent boxes appear to multiply through light refraction.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

SUBSCRIBE NOW
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories
However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name
in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.

Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting
Japan to deploy 1,400 troops and missiles to large-scale drills in expanded role
Japan implements language proficiency requirements for certain visa applicants
Police investigate stains found on national treasure at Nara temple
Japan to restrict power banks on flights from April 24
Mammals cannot be cloned infinitely, Japanese mouse study shows
Why Princess Aiko won't ascend the chrysanthemum throne
Where will the Centrist Reform Alliance’s soul-searching take it?

Japan freezes visa applications for foreign restaurant workers
Where Tokyo goes to sweat and soak
At Ueno Station, ‘Freedom’ restored
Beijing row highlights need for Japan to reduce cleantech dependence on China
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’
Japan’s temples and shrines are testing the limits.

A look back at Destination Restaurants 2025 (Part 1) – Gastronomic tourism born of chefs’ collaborations
Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division.

Myanmar reduces ex-leader Aung San Suu Kyi's sentence and frees former president
57 mins ago
Xi welcomes slew of world leaders as Trump fights with allies
1 hour ago
China's information war turns Taiwan’s own voices against it
1 hour ago
Japan’s wage growth holds momentum after small firms reach deals
1 hour ago
Japanese drone maker notes tailwind as demand jumps and China frozen out of U.S.

1 hour ago