Born in 1956 in Fukuoka, Japan, Hiroshi Yamano has been working with glass for over 25 years. He has studied at prestigious schools throughout the US and Japan, such as California College of Arts and Crafts, Tokyo Glass Art Institute, and Rochester Institute of Technology where he received his Masters in Fine Arts.Yamano began working with glass in 1975 having seen an exhibition of Scandinavian glass in Kyoto. After traveling to Europe, he returned to Japan to complete his studies. He spent the next two years studying glass. At California College of Arts and Crafts, under Marvin Lipofsky, he learned the creative aspects of glass, and at the Tokyo Glass Art Institute, he learned the technical aspects of glass.Yamano's list of exhibitions is as impressive as it is international. Venues include the United States, Japan, Switzerland, Germany, and Australia. He has received numerous awards, most notably in 1991, The Rakow Commission, an annual award presented to a leading glass artist, from The Corning Museum of Glass. The resulting piece was presented to the Corning Museum of Glass. His work appears in many collections, both public and private, including The Corning Museum of Glass in New York, the Wheaton Glass Museum in New Jersey and the Chrysler Museum in Virginia.Hiroshi Yamano has been an integral part of a generation of artists who have transformed the glass vessel from a functional to a sculptural form. His vessels are glass canvases for his artistic expression, and in the creation of his work, he has transformed the craft of glass into an art. Hiroshi Yamano has worked throughout the world as an instructor at the prestigious Pilchuck Glass School, as a lecturer at The Glass Art Society conference in Mexico, The Aus Glass Conference in Australia and the Vanersborg Glass Festival in Sweden. In 1998 he was invited to be a guest at Waterford Crystal in Ireland.At Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Yamano began his series entitled "From East to West". There he developed the technique for which he is best known: rolling thickly blown hot glass over silver leaf to fuse it, scratching figures into the surface, and then plating the surface with copper. The idea for this technique came from studying Japanese metalwork which is used for making traditional objects such as sword guards and copper containers. Yamano believes that the fish in his "From East to West" series are self-portraits with the mountains representing the United States and the water symbolizing Japan with its rivers, lakes, and oceans.Yamano always knew that it was glass he wanted to pursue. "My works," he says, "come from all my experiences. The memories I have from my experiences are my most important treasures. To keep finding my treasures, I have to keep swimming the world like a fish swimming in the waters." For the last 27 years, Yamano has been traveling the world and gathering inspiration. "I am a fish," he says, "who is always looking for something. I am a fish who cannot stop swimming until my body stops moving. Maybe I will swim forever, like the universe."Fish are a recurrent motif in Yamano's glass vessels. He adheres to a strict thematic approach expressing his dynamism through his fluid forms. In some vessels he delineates form and decoration by casing his panels with patterns of fish in colorless glass. In others, he merges the two into opulent, elegant forms. Yamano's work is also as much about interiors as it is about exteriors, weaving together rich brocades of gold, silver and copper foils while creating a seductive interplay of transparency and translucency.In his newest work, Yamano creates large circular windows that open into his gilt interiors delicately engraved with his fish motif. From the outside, the gentle folds of the overlapping leaves of gold, silver, and copper create the appearance of precious papier mache. The most recent blown vessels include as many elegant, timeless forms as do his signature spheres with fish perched upon them, forms that reflect both tradition and innovation. EDUCATION1981 B.A. Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan1982 California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA, USA1984 Tokyo Glass Art Institute, Tokyo, Japan1989 M.F.A. Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USAINSTRUCTOR1986 Leon Applebaum Glass Studio, Plattsburg, NY, USA1988 Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC, USA1990 Tokyo Glass Art Institute, Tokyo, Japan.1991 Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA, USA1994 Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA, USA2000 Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA, USA2002 Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA, USA2003 Chair of Glass Department, Osaka University of Arts, Osaka, Japan2004 Grand Crystal Museum, Taipei, Taiwan2005 Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA, USA2006 - Present Professor of Glass Department, Osaka University of Arts, Osaka, JapanSTUDIO FOUNDER & DIRECTOR1991 Established Ezra Glass Studio, Ohtsuki, Japan1998 Established Ezra Glass Studio at Kanaz Forest of Creation, Kanazu, Japan Glass Art Document, Kanazu, Japan1999 Kanaz Forest of Creation Glass Workshop, Spring & Summer, Kanazu, Japan2000 Established Glass School at Ezra Glass Studio, Kanazu, Japan Kanaz Forest of Creation Glass Workshop, Spring, Kanazu, JapanAnnual - Kanaz Forest of Creation Glass Workshop, Spring & Summer, Kanazu, Japan LECTURES & RESIDENCIES1989 Creative Glass Center of America, Millville, NJ, USA1991 Otaru Glass Art Festival, Otaru, Japan. Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY, USA1992 Glass Art Society Conference, Mexico1993 Aus Glass Conference, Australia1994 Vanersborg Glass Festival, Vanersborg, Sweden1998 Waterford Crystal Company, Waterford, Ireland1999 Glass & Science Symposium, Portugal2002 Liquid Light Glass, Santa Fe, NM, USA Osaka Craft Park, Osaka, Japan Jam Factory, Adelaide, Australia Harbour Front Centre, Toronto, ONT, Canada Public Glassmaking and Metalworking Facility, Shizuoka, Japan MC Glass Lab, Tokyo, Japan2003 Glass Works Symposium, Toyama, Japan Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan2004 San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, USA.2005 Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA2006 Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA, USA2008 Glass Art Society Conference, Portland OR, USA2009 College of Creative Studies, Detroit, MI, USA2011 Bay Area Glass Institute, Santa Cruz, CA2013 Wheaton Arts Visiting Artist, Glass Weekend, Millville, NJ, USASOLO EXHIBITIONS1989 Dowson Gallery, Rochester, NY, USA Grohe Glass Gallery, Boston, MA, USA1990 Habatat Gallery, Boca Raton, FL, USA1991 Heller Gallery, New York, NY, USA Running Ridge Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, USA William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA1992 Glass Gallery & Studio Asa, Tokyo, Japan1993 Studio Com-Tachikichi, Kyoto, Japan Glass Gallery Mannu-Kurokabe, Nagahama, Japan Buro-M, Osaka, Japan Misawa Home Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan Syoutaro Glass Gallery, Tokyo, Japan Espacio Glass Gallery, Tokyo, Japan1994 Glass Gallery Mannu-Kurokabe, Nagahama, Japan Mumon-An Gallery, Tokyo, Japan1995 Buro-M, Osaka, Japan Hanayo Gallery, Wakayama, Japan Gallery Wachi, Tokyo, Japan Gallery Ten, Daimaru Department Store, Tokyo, Japan Gallery Kokon, Niigata, Japan William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA Rachel Collection, Aspen, CO, USA1996 Gallery Bidro-Ya, Nagoya, Japan Hanayo Gallery, Wakayama, Japan Margo Jacobsen Gallery, Portland, OR, USA Maurine Littleton Gallery, Washington DC, USA Edgewood Orchard Gallery, Fishcreek, WI, USA Grand Central Gallery, Tampa, FL, USA1997 Rachel Collection, Aspen, CO, USA William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA Heller Gallery, New York, NY, USA Gallery Neos, Tokyo, Japan1998 Gallery Spotlight, Tokyo, Japan Margo Jacobsen Gallery, Portland, OR, USA Gallery Shibayama, Tokyo, Japan Gallery Enomoto, Osaka, Japan1999 Marx Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL, USA Gallery Utsuwa-Kan, Kyoto, Japan William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA Akarenga-Kan, Kitakyushu, Japan2000 Heller Gallery, New York, NY, USA Rachel Collection, Aspen, CO, USA Gallery Enomoto, Osaka, Japan Gallery Kitsukei, Fukui, Japan Akarenga-Kan, Kitakyushu, Japan Riley Hawk Gallery, Cleveland, OH, USA2001 Friesen Fine Art, Sun Valley, ID, USA Galleria Silecchia, Sarasota, FL, USA Gallery Utuwa-Kan, Kyoto, Japan Running Ridge Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, USA William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA Gallery Ten, Daimaru Department Store, Osaka, Japan Shibuya Tokyu Department Store, Tokyo, Japan2002 Public Glassmaking and Metalworking Facility, Shizuoka, Japan Gallery Enomoto, Osaka, Japan Gallery Kikkei, Fukui, Japan Royal Art Gallery, Daimaru Department Store, Osaka, Japan Heller Gallery, New York, NY, USA Holsten Gallery, Stockbridge, MA, USA William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA Marx Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL, USA Miranda Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA, USA2003 Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, ONT, Canada Sala Crystal Gallery, Nara, Japan Museum of Arts and Crafts, Itami, Japan Sala Crystal Gallery, Nara, Japan Running Ridge Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, USA Riley Hawk Gallery, Columbus, OH, USA2004 Holsten Gallery, Stockbridge, MA, USA William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA Shiga Kogen Roman Museum, Nagano, Japan Gallery Ten, Daimaru Department Store, Osaka, Japan Grand Crystal Museum, Taipei, Taiwan2005 Heller Gallery, New York, NY, USA Sala Crystal Gallery, Nara, Japan Tobin-Hewett Gallery, Louisville, KY, USA William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA Lewallen Gallery, New Mexico, NM, USA Shibuya Tokyu Department Store, Tokyo, Japan Marx Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL, USA2006 Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI, USA Holsten Galleries, Stockbridge, MA, USA William Traver Gallery, Tacoma, WA, USA Fukui Kougeisha, Fukui, Japan Kuivato Glass Gallery, Sedona, AZ, USA Gallery Fush, Chiba, Japan2007 Davis and Cline Gallery, Ashland, OR, USA Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, Canada Lads Gallery, Osaka, Japan2008 Wiliam Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA Lewallen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM, USA2009 Habatat Galleries, MI, USA Marta Hewett Gallery, Cincinnati, OH, USA Vidoroya, Nagoya, Japan2010 LewAllen Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM, USA Davis and Cline Gallery, Ashland, OR, USA2011 William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA Ken Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL, USA2012 Thomas Riley Galleries, Cleveland, OH, USA2013 Robert Lombard Fine Art, Orlando, FL, USA2014 Stewart Fine Art, Boca Raton, FL, USA LewAllen Contemporary, Scottsdale, AZ, and Santa Fe, NM, USA Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA, USASELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS1986 Japan Modern Craft Exhibition, Tokyo Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan New Glass from Japan and America,Nachste Ausstellung Museum, Switzerland New Glass from Japan, Gallery Gottscalk Bets, Frankfurt, Germany International Exhibition of Glass Crafts, Kanazawa, Japan Kyoto Craft International, Kyoto, Japan1987 100 American Craftsmen, Kenan Center, Buffalo, NY, USA Japan Crafts Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan1990 Stockbridge Invitational, Holsten Gallery, Stockbridge, MA, USA Glass Art, Hakone Open Air Museum, Hakone, Japan Rivalto Glass Sculpture Exhibition, Isetan Museum,Tokyo, Japan Ual Art Exhibition, Tokyo Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan X’mas Glass Show, Gallery Nakama, Tokyo, Japan International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Boca Raton, FL, USA1991 Glass Art, Glass Gallery & Studio Asa, Tokyo, Japan New Generation. Gallery Nakama, Tokyo, Japan Funzione, Gallery ArteFact, Tokyo, Japan Glass Art from Japan, Grohe Glass Gallery, Boston, MA, USA International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Boca Raton, FL, USA1992 Glass Art, Contemporary Art Niki, Tokyo, Japan Funzione vol. 2, Gallery ArteFact, Tokyo, Japan Evolving, Yokohama City Gallery, Yokohama, Japan Design Vision, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, Australia1993 International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Boca Raton, FL, USA Studio Glass Artists Exhibition, Maruzen Gallery, Tokyo, Japan Funzione vol. 3, Gallery ArteFact, Tokyo, Japan1994 Japan Modern Glass Art Invitational, Tokyo, Japan Funzione vol. 4, Gallery ArteFact, Tokyo, Japan Tea Bowl Exhibition, Kakiden Gallery, Tokyo, Japan1995 Funzione vol. 5, Gallery ArteFact, Tokyo, Japan Glass for September, Glass Gallery Karanis, Tokyo, Japan Glass for December, Glass Gallery Karanis, Tokyo, Japan Tea Bowl Exhibition, Kakiden Gallery, Tokyo, Japan1996 Beer Van Gogh, Tokyo, Japan Tea Bowl Exhibition, Kakiden Gallery, Tokyo, Japan1997 International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Boca Raton, FL, USA Ripple Effect in Glass, Gallery of American Craft, Millville, NJ, USA Funzione vol. 6, Gallery ArteFact, Tokyo, Japan1998 Five Elements, Gallery Chika, Tokyo, Japan Sake and Sake Cup Exhibition, Miyako Hotel, Kyoto, Japan Summer Glass, Art Gallery Biyu-Bou, Japan Glass Art 98, Ginza Wako Department Store, Tokyo, Japan Directions, Gallery Misawa, Japan Grand Central Gallery, Tampa, FL, USA Glass Art, Niigata Museum, Niigata, Japan1999 Rachel Collection, Aspen, CO, USA Glass Art, London Glassblowing Workshop, London, UK Glass Art, Gallery Candide, Tokyo, Japan Glass in Japan, Odakyu Museum, Tokyo, Japan Funzione vol. 7, Gallery ArteFact, Tokyo, Japan Corning Museum Rakow Awards Show, Margo Jacobsen Gallery, Portland, OR, USA Glass Art Exhibition, Art Core Museum, Kanazu, Japan2000 Exhibition of Kanaz Forest of Creation Artists, Art Core Museum, Kanazu, Japan Japan Contemporary Glass, Onoda Museum, Onoda, Japan William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA Stream of Light, Grand Crystal Museum, Taipei, Taiwan Creativity and Collaboration: Pilchuck Glass School's 30 Years, Seattle Center, USA Light Impressions, Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, OR, USA Creatures Great and Small, Chappell Gallery, Boston, MA USA2001 Gallery Enomoto, Osaka, Japan Tea Bowl Shoe, Kyohei Fujita Museum, Miyagi, Japan Funzione, Gallery Arte Fact, Tokyo, Japan Perspectives in Glass, Firehouse Gallery, Vancouver WA, USA 15th Anniversary Exhibition, Friesen Gallery, Ketchum, ID, USA China International Glass Exhibition, Millennium Museum, Beijing, China Shanghai Fine Arts Museum, Shanghai, China 29th Annual International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Pontiac, MI, USA SOFA , Marx Saunders Gallery, New York, USA Glass Exhibition, Galleria Silecchia, Sarasota, FL, USA Fabulous Fish, Dane Gallery, Nantucket, MA, USA2002 Suntry Museum. Tokyo. Japan. 30th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI, USA SOFA/Marx Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL,USA2003 Glass Works 2003, Toyama Shimin Plaza, Toyama, Japan 31st International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI, USA SOFA/Marx Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL, USA 20/20 Vision, Museum of American Glass, Millville, NJ, USA Cheongju International Craft Biennale 2003, Cheongju, Korea2004 Glass Art, Lad’s Gallery, Osaka, Japan Osaka Kogei Exhibition, Osaka, Japan 32nd International Glass Invitational, Habatat Gallery, Royal Oak, MI, USA SOFA/Thomas Riley Gallery, Chicago, IL, USA Glass Masters 2004, Shibuya Tokyu Department Store, Tokyo, Japan Glass Art 2004, Ginza Waco Department Store, Tokyo, Japan Art Palm Beach, Marx Saunders Gallery, Palm Beach, FL, USA Marxhausen Gallery of Art, Concordia University, Seward, NE, USA First Annual World Glass, William Traver Gallery, Tacoma, WA, USA Glass Masters 2005, Shibuya Tokyu Department Store, Tokyo, Japan2005 Arts & Ecology, Osaka University of Arts, Osaka, Japan Osaka Kogei Exhibition, Osaka, Japan Fukui Kougeisha, Fukui, Japan Glass Art Energy, Art Core Museum, Kanazu, Japan Glass Art 2005, Shibuya Tokyu Department Store, Tokyo, Japan G-wings Gallery, Kanazawa, Japan Second Annual World Glass, William Traver Gallery, Tacoma, WA, USA SOFA/Marx Saunders Gallery, Chicago, IL, USA 33rd International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI, USA Laura Russo Gallery, International Glass Exhibition, Portland, OR, USA2006 Osaka Kogei Exhibition, Osaka, Japan SOFA/Thomas Riley Galleries, Chicago, IL, USA 34th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI, USA2007 CCA: A Legacy in Studio Glass, San Francisco Muesum of Craft and Design, San Francisco, CA, USA SOFA/ Thomas Riley Galleries, Chicago, IL, USA 35th International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Royal Oak, MI, USA Memorial Art Glass Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan Masterworks Exhibition, Habatat Galleries 35th Annual International Awards Exhibition, Royal Oak, MI, USA2008 Osaka Kogei Exhibition, Osaka, Japan Table Wear Festival 2008, Tokyo, Japan Art Palm Beach/ Thomas Riley Galleries, Palm Beach, FL, USA Hiragane Yoichi & Hiroshi Yamano Exhibition, Lads Gallery, Osaka