Collection: Inoue Emiko 井上 絵美子

Inoue Emiko is a contemporary Japanese lacquer artist whose sculptural works explore the vitality, movement, and transformative energy of the natural world. Born in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, in 1970, she completed her graduate studies in lacquer art at Kyoto City University of Arts in 1995. Her early achievements included the Kayō Prize at the university's graduation exhibition in 1995, followed by an invitation to exhibit at Laques au Présent in Paris in 1997. She subsequently undertook further specialized training in traditional lacquer techniques through Kyoto City's Traditional Industries Technical Training Program, completing its lacquer courses in 2005 and 2006.
Over the following decades, Inoue developed a distinctive approach to contemporary lacquer sculpture, combining the technical refinement of traditional Japanese urushi with an expressive sensitivity to natural forms and movement. Her works have been exhibited extensively in Japan and internationally, including exhibitions in Paris, Beijing, and Boston. 
Beyond her own artistic practice, Inoue is actively involved in international initiatives dedicated to preserving, promoting, and perpetuating the lacquer traditions of East and Southeast Asia. Working alongside fellow artists and specialists, she has participated in cultural exchanges and collaborative projects in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, supporting the transmission of traditional knowledge while encouraging its continued development and contemporary expression. These activities reflect her belief in lacquer not simply as an artistic medium, but as a living cultural tradition shared across national boundaries.
Her artistic achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Kusube Prize at the Kyōten Exhibition in 2012, the Association Prize of the Kyoto Arts and Crafts Artists Association in 2013, and multiple honors at the Nikkōkai Arts and Crafts Exhibition, culminating in the Prime Minister's Award in 2024. She has also received the prestigious Tokusen (Special Selection) Award at the Nitten Exhibition in 2021 and 2024.
Inoue continues to explore the sculptural possibilities of lacquer, creating works that unite the traditions of Japanese craftsmanship with a deeply personal vision of the vitality and movement of the natural world.