Takeshi Harada

Takeshi Harada (b. 1984, Aichi, Japan) is a metal sculptor celebrated both in Japan and internationally for his mastery of traditional Japanese metalcraft.
Working primarily with forging (Tankin) and engraving (Chokin) techniques, Harada creates intricate and hyperrealistic sculptures that transcend the limits of material and craftsmanship. His works embody a level of precision and sensibility that make them appear almost impossible to have been shaped by human hands.

At the heart of Harada’s practice lies the theme of “landscapes within memory” and “rediscovery in the everyday.”
His motifs—small insects, animals, and fragments of urban nature—capture fleeting moments that often go unnoticed in daily life: a butterfly taking flight, a ladybug meeting a spider, moths circling a streetlight, or ants gathering around a fallen scoop of ice cream.
These scenes, recreated with astonishing detail, invite viewers to reencounter the poetry hidden within ordinary moments.

While Harada’s sculptures display exceptional realism, they are not mere reproductions.
Each piece reconstructs a scene that once moved the artist—an impression, a childhood fascination, or the subtle wonder of observing small life up close.
Through this, his work evokes nostalgia and warmth, reminding us of the sensations and discoveries we may have forgotten amid our modern routines.

Technically, Harada employs forging, engraving, and casting, shaping metal sheets by repeatedly hammering them until they take form.
He achieves delicate surface expressions—such as the intricate veins of wings or the texture of concrete—without the use of paint, relying instead on chemical reactions within the metal itself to produce color.
By limiting his materials, he pursues the inherent beauty and tactile quality of metal, transforming the rigid substance into something organic, fragile, and alive.

Harada’s work celebrates not only craftsmanship but also empathy — a quiet dialogue between viewer, memory, and material.

Biography

• 1984 Born in Aichi, Japan

• 2009 MFA in Metal Sculpture, Hiroshima City University Graduate School of Arts
  　　Awarded Fuji Fire Art Space Prize (Osaka); Selected for 48th Hokuriku Chunichi Art Exhibition

• 2011 EAST-WEST Art Award Competition 2011, Encouragement Prize (London)

• 2014 Tokyo Midtown Award 2014, Grand Prix (Tokyo)

• 2016 Selected for Taro Okamoto Award for Contemporary Art (Kanagawa); Solo exhibitions in Osaka and Funabashi

• 2008 Phoenix acquired as a public collection by Saeki Ward Cultural Center (Hiroshima)

• 2015 Participated in the University of Hawai‘i Art Program as Grand Prix awardee