Nishinaka Yukito (1964-) is a glass artist based in Mobara, Chiba prefecture. After studying Pharmacy at university, a visit to a glass making studio, where he witnessed a flaming molten glass for the first time, became a life-changing moment. He went on to work at Japan’s first crystal glass factory, Kagami Crystal Glass Co. Ltd., in 1989 and later studied Sculpture and Glass at California College of the Arts in Oakland, USA from 1991-94. Since graduating he has pursued an active exhibition schedule within Japan and abroad.

His distinctive yobitsugi technique is inspired by Japan’s traditional method for mending tea bowls. This involves using urushi lacquer to join the broken parts and incorporate fragments from another object. The beauty of imperfection is celebrated by purposely leaving the repair visible. He works by fusing fragments from a broken vessel onto the surface of a free-blown glass core. ‘I break my own vessels, in order to go beyond myself, and join the parts together to be reborn’ is his mantra.