Hiroyuki Nishimura uses reclaimed wood and scavenged materials to produce outwardly sculptural, provocative furniture and decor. Harvesting felled and abandoned trees from the Shonan and Izu Peninsula areas of Japan, Nishimura chooses to work in the medium that speaks to him. Zougei Inc. is the name of his furniture studio in Yugawara, Japan.
While much of the wood Nishimura reclaims is largely deemed unsuitable for conventional furniture or for any other building projects, his proficiency with sculpture proves otherwise, with the artist-designer bringing new life to the material and creating interesting bookcases, side tables and magazine racks through hand-carving techniques and the occasional use of a chainsaw. Nishimura works with the shape of any given fallen tree — he rarely works against the natural form of his chosen material — and creates works that hold a primal appeal and often resemble ancient totemic artifacts.
Born in Osaka, Japan, Nishimura attended the Tokyo University of the Arts in 1986. After graduating, he began working as a prep school teacher, while also pursuing his love of art through sculpting wood. In 2008, Nishimura opened his own studio Zougei Inc. Today, Zougei has production facilities alongside Sagami Bay in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Nishimura has won several awards and performed many solo exhibitions throughout his career. His numerous accolades include the Silver Award at the 8th Kajima Sculpture Competition in 2004 and the Grand Prize Award at the 10th Oita Asian Sculpture Exhibition in 2010. His many exhibitions include solo shows at the Sekiguchi Art Museum in Tokyo and the GEM Art Gallery of Tokyo.
Find Zougei furniture on 1stDibs.
$5,000 / item
Zougei Abstract Sculpture Tribal Style shelf 2
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Nomad Sculpture. Also it can be used as small bookcase. Material: zelkova This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. it's sculpture and also displaying shelf ...
Wood
$4,600 / item
Zougei Abstract Sculpture Tribal Style shelf 3
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Porter Sculpture. Also it can be used as small bookcase. Material: zelkova This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. it's sculpture and also displaying shelf...
Wood
Zougei Abstract Sculpture shelf 4
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Kakashi Mountain Sculpture. Also it can be used as small bookcase. Material: zelkova This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. it's sculpture and also disp...
Wood
Zougei wood Sculpture Shelf Bookcase Televisore
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Cardinal and Mr.Tower Sculptural stool by Zougei carved furniture Material: osmanthus This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of wood used for Nishimura...
Wood
Zougei Abstract Sculpture shelf 5
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Kakashi Wind Sculpture. Also it can be used as small bookcase. Material: zelkova This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. it's sculpture and also displayi...
Wood
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool14 Tribal Glamping
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: City man Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Zelkova This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. This work is stool, smal...
Wood
Zougei wold wood Sculpture Shelf Bookcase K1
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Cardinal and Mr.Tower Sculptural stool by Zougei carved furniture Material: osmanthus This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of wood used for Nishimura...
Wood
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zougei Furniture Sculptural Stool 3 Tribal Glamping
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: A day for going to the ocean Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Cypress This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. M...
Wood
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural wood Chair glamping
By Zougei, Hiroyuki Nishimura
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Irritable person Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: zelkova. This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of wood...
Wood
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool19 Tribal Glamping
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: A day go to the hill Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Cypress This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of w...
Wood
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool16 Tribal Glamping
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: A thread windings Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Machilus This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of woo...
Wood
Gufram "the End Stool Is Black" by Toiletpaper
By Maurizio Cattelan & Pierpaolo Ferrari, Toiletpaper, Gufram Furniture
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The funeral look of this furniture-sculpture is tempered by the softness of the polyurethane that makes it: in perfect Gufram tradition nothing is as it seems. "THE END in BLACK" is ...
Paint
$1,799 / item
H 17.52 in W 16.34 in D 13.19 in
21st Century Studio Irvine Betti Concrete Stool in Brick Red Cement Handmade
By Marialaura Rossiello
Located in Rome, Lazio
Surrealism, primitivism, metaphysics and brutalism. Art together with architecture and design build a scenario of inspirations and continuous references through which the material ri...
Concrete, Metal
Midcentury Walnut Cado Display Shelf
By Poul Cadovius
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Beautiful Walnut Cado System display shelf thats meant to hold books or flat artwork. The shelf has a beautiful catch at the bottom preventing a book from...
Rosewood
'Le Temoin' Stool by Man Ray for Gavina
By Gavina, Man Ray
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
Beautiful example in pristine condition, designed by Man Ray for Gavina's ultramobile exhibition.
Faux Leather, Acrylic, Foam, Plywood
Abstract Stone Horse Sculpture
By Isamu Noguchi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Abstract stone sculpture in the style of Noguchi. The sculpture consists of two stone pieces set into one another and then balanced on a wood base. The piece also uses rope and wood ...
Stone
Abstract Sculpture, Marble
Located in Madrid, ES
Abstraction. Marble sculpture. Abstract sculpture is non-figurative, it is based on three-dimensionality and relies on texture and geometric shapes, with color as the protagonist ...
Marble
Abstract Sculpture
Located in Antwerp, BE
Abstract modern sculpture. Measures: Height 67 cm. Diameter 28 cm.
Metal, Chrome
$875Sale Price|30% Off
H 40 in W 36 in D 12 in
Vintage Early American Colonial Style Low Profile Scalloped Pine Bookcase Shelf
Located in Dayton, OH
This Early American style bookcase captures the warm, utilitarian charm of traditional colonial-era craftsmanship. Built from solid wood with a rich, honey-amber stain, the piece hig...
Pine
Mid Century Wool Ram Sheep Stool Sculpture
By Hans Peter Krafft
Located in Las Vegas, NV
A beautiful mid century ram sheep sculpture, most likely of Scandinavian origin. These sheep sculptures are beloved for their whimsical wooly appearance. They make great conversatio...
Wool, Hide
Franklin Solid Wood Corner Shelf, Walnut
Located in Cincinnati, US
The award nominated Franklin Shelf is a 90 degree corner shelf. This unique design allows for maximum storage space, while occupying a very small area. ...
Wood, Cherry, Maple, Walnut
$2,295
H 40 in W 26.5 in D 18.5 in
Austrian Wiener Werkstätte Bookcase/ Shelf /Bakers Rack/ Display Stand
By Thonet
Located in New York City, NY
A three shelf Jugendstil bookcase / etagere / bakers rack, two tone in stained and polished beechwood with decorative openwork side panels extendin...
Beech
Bookcase/Shelf With 3 Shelves & Wheels In Mahogany
Located in Lejre, DK
19th century mahogany bookcase/shelf. The furniture is furnished with three shelves and detailed turned columns. At the bottom it is mounted with small wheels, which provides both fu...
Mahogany
Zougei Abstract Sculpture shelf F1
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Top of the stone Sculpture. Also it can be used as small bookcase. Material: zelkova This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. it's sculpture and also displa...
Wood
Zougei Abstract Sculpture shelf F2
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Top of the stone Sculpture. Also it can be used as small bookcase. Material: zelkova This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. it's sculpture and also displa...
Wood
Zougei Jenga Sculpture Shelf Bookcase 05
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Jenga Sculptural stool by Zougei carved furniture Material: Zelkova This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of wood ...
Wood
Sold
H 16.54 in W 11.82 in D 11.82 in
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool15 Tribal Glamping
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: A day go to the hill Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Cypress This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of w...
Wood
Sold
H 17.52 in W 12.6 in D 9.45 in
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool14 Tribal Glamping
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: City man Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Machilus This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of wood used fo...
Wood
Sold
H 16.93 in W 12.21 in D 11.82 in
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool 3 Tribal Glamping
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: A day for going to the ocean Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Cypress This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. M...
Wood
Sold
H 17.72 in W 11.03 in D 13.78 in
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool4 Primitive African Art
By Hiroyuki Nishimura, Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Hermit crab Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Cypress. This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of wood used...
Wood
Sold
H 16.15 in W 12.6 in D 12.6 in
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool3 tribal glamping
By Zougei, Hiroyuki Nishimura
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: A day for going to the ocean Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Quercus. This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. ...
Wood
Sold
H 14.38 in W 11.82 in D 12.21 in
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool2 Primitive African Art
By Hiroyuki Nishimura, Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Foot of mountain Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Quercus. This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of wood...
Wood
Sold
H 18.9 in W 11.82 in D 9.85 in
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool glamping African Art
By Zougei, Hiroyuki Nishimura
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Mamma Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material zelkova. This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws.
Wood