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.
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Child Chair Tribal Glamping
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Because a bus passed Sculptural stool by Zogei carved furniture Material: Yoshino cherry This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of wood used for Ni...
Wood
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural wood Chair glamping
By Hiroyuki Nishimura, Zougei
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
Arthur Umanoff Wood and Rush Sculptural Chairs
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural Arthur Umanoff chairs with signature rush back, slatted wood seat, and iron legs. Floating backrest. Look great from all angles. Good vintage condition. Five available. Pr...
Iron
Sculptural Solid Wood Chair by Mobius Objects
By Möbius Objects
Located in Calgary, AB
Complex yet functional joinery transcends trends making this piece a timeless addition to any interior decor. On it's own or as a set, a contemporary classic. One American Black ...
Wood, Walnut
Sculptural Mango Wood Chair Modern Organic
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This wonderfully sculptural chair was crafted from a single block of mango wood. The chair sits on 4 slender legs. Its neutral pigment makes it perfect for any space. A uniquely scul...
Wood, Fruitwood
$1,770
H 50.01 in W 14.57 in D 18.12 in
Sculptural Carved Chair From Walnut Wood, Log Furniture, Organic, Logniture
By Logniture
Located in Stara Gradiška, HR
Unique chainsaw carved wooden functional sculpture usable as chair. Crafted from walnut wood and protected with the highest quality oils, ensuring durability for generations. Natural...
Wood, Walnut
Antique Pakistani Punjabi Wooden Tribal Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Antique Pakistani Punjabi wooden tribal chair featuring thick turned stiles topped with tiered finials and a latticework back of turned spools. The chair also has low turned legs and...
Velvet, Rope, Wood, Silk
Wicker and Painted Iron Childs Chair
By Frederic Weinberg
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Possibly designed by pipsan swanson saarinen. See the photo with the soda can to give you a sense of scale.
Wicker
Sculptural Concrete Chair and Table Set
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Four unique concrete chairs and coffee table Set - 1970s Rounded concrete set - organic form with low profile seating. Fantastic shape and patina - featuring 4x pod chairs and 1x r...
Concrete
Vintage Horn Child's Chair
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Vintage 12 horn child's chair with original upholstery. The back and arms fashioned with horns as well as the feet. The seat is covered in vintage green mohair. 17"W x 17"D x 19"H P...
Horn
Arthur Umanoff Wood and Rush Sculptural Chairs
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early sculptural chairs by Arthur Umanoff. Chairs with signature rush back, slatted wood seat, and iron legs. Floating backrest. Look great from all angles. Good vintage condition. T...
Iron
Modernist Childs Chair
By Clifford Pascoe
Located in New York, NY
Pure modern design childs' chair, off-white backrest, grey seat, black metal rod frame.
Iron
Sculptural Teak Wood Chair, Modern Organic, Java
By Asian Modern
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A uniquely sculptural chair crafted from teak sourced in Bojonegoro, Java, Indonesia. This chair features a wonderful form with various wood textures and shades. The perfect object t...
Teak
Boho Style Sculptural Wicker Chair and Ottoman
Located in San Diego, CA
A fantastic "Boho" style sculptural wicker chair and ottoman, circa 1970s. The set is in good vintage condition and measure 31"D x 30"H with a seat height of 16"; the ottoman is 18.5...
Wicker
$195 / item
H 31 in W 16 in D 10 in
'Pelle' Leather and Metal Armless Dining Chair by Toyoda Hiroyuki for ICF
By Toyoda Hiroyuki
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sleek, sophisticated, and exceptionally well-crafted, these "Pelle" armless dining chairs by renowned designer Toyoda Hiroyuki for ICF exemplify the refined simplicity of modern Ital...
Metal, Chrome
Bronze Sculptural Panama Chair, 21st Century by Mattia Biagi
By Mattia Biagi
Located in Culver City, CA
"Panama Bronze" is an art and design project, the result of the collaboration between the artist Mattia Biagi and Promemoria. The artist has poured hot tar on a real Panama chair, to bring the object closer to the material and to make it melt in the ground. Mattia Biagi has created what he himself called the "polarity of destruction and conservation". "Although the melted tar destroys the object it touches, in this case, the Panama chair - an elegant and finely crafted object - it simultaneously preserves it in its new and very different form". This is how the original silhouette of the Panama chair was turned into its new incarnation. Thanks to its experience in working with bronze, Promemoria has helped Mattia to refine his work of art, transforming the iconic Panama chair, designed by Romeo...
Bronze
Pair of sculptural wood chairs
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Pair of sculptural wood chairs
Wood