Makiko Furukawa

I am a "Wearable Sculpture" artist who fuses traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary three-dimensional forms. My artistic roots lie deep within Japanese culture and the philosophy of Nihonga (Japanese Painting).

In my current practice, I have traded the brush for a needle and pigments for beads. I create "Paintings in Relief" and contemporary artworks that seamlessly blend fine art with bead embroidery on organza. My creative process is an intuitive dialogue between material and spirit; I view each bead not as mere decoration, but as a single stroke of paint. By layering thousands of beads with rigorous precision, I transform flat surfaces into complex, sculptural landscapes.

Deeply influenced by ancient Japanese motifs—such as the fluid energy of the Ascending Dragon (Ryu) and the mystical presence of Yokai—I strive to capture the essence of "Wabi-Sabi" within a modern, international context. My art exists in the harmony between East and West, tradition and innovation, and stillness and motion.

Following my Grand Prize at the AJC Exhibition in Japan and being named a two-time finalist for "Bead Dreams" in the USA, my mission is to redefine the boundaries of embroidery. I create one-of-a-kind masterpieces meant to be e...

Degree:
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Nihonga (Japanese Painting)

University:
Kyoto University of the Arts (formerly Kyoto College of Art)

Country:
Japan

Exhibitions & Events (Selected)
Solo & Group Exhibitions』

2025 | Osaka Art & Design 2025 (Osaka) – Featuring the fusion of Fine Art and Bead Embroidery

2022 | Group Exhibition (Our Gallery, Osaka)

2020 | Solo Exhibition, Flocorir L’arbre (Osaka)

2019 | Solo Exhibition, Palette Gallery (Omotesando, Tokyo)

2018 | Solo Exhibition, T-Gallery (Ashiya, Hyogo)

2011 | Invited Artist, Bead Art Japan (The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo)

2010 | Special Exhibition: AJC Winners Tour (The Hakone Open-Air Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, and major department stores nationwide)

2008 | Special Exhibition (Daimaru Shinsaibashi Department Store, Osaka)

International Shows (USA)
2019 | Bead & Button Show (Milwaukee, USA) – Exhibition

2017 | Bead & Button Show (Milwaukee, USA) – Exhibition

Curated Pop-up Events & Trunk Shows
Featured at the most prestigious department stores in Japan:

Takashimaya (Namba Osaka, JR Nagoya, Nihombashi Tokyo)

Hankyu Umeda Main Store (Osaka)

Mitsukoshi (Nihombashi Main Store, Tokyo)

Seibu (Ikebukuro, Tokyo)

Tokyu (Shibuya Main Store, Tokyo)

Hanshin (Umeda, Osaka)

Kintetsu (Uehonmachi, Osaka)

Trade Shows & Art Fairs
Participated in: rooms, PLUG IN, New Jewelry