Takeshi Igawa is a contemporary Japanese artist who uses traditional urushi lacquer techniques to create minimalist abstract sculptures. Educated at Kyoto City University of Arts, from which he obtained his BFA, MFA, and PhD, Igawa combines urethane and natural materials like palm leaves to create striking, glossy forms reminiscent of black glass. His meticulous process involves molding, coating, and polishing, resulting in unique, wave-like sculptures that evoke the sea. Igawa’s work has been exhibited internationally, and is found in public collections such as the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in the U.S. and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Kyoto.