Eriko Kobayashi is a native of Tokyo, Japan, where she started her journey in glass art 11 years ago. Her focus started on soft glass flameworking, as borosilicate wasn’t part of the curriculum there yet. After coming to the U.S. a little over five years ago, Eriko saw the popularity of borosilicate glass and gradually started learning the process. This was meant to be; as the pandemic hit, Eriko was still able to create without needing the large facility, team and tools associated with soft glass work. Basically, all you need for borosilicate work is a torch, a countertop kiln and some hand tools. She also likes torch work because it allows her to create larger pieces without the need for multiple sets of hands.
With a focus on contemporary glass art, it’s no surprise that Eriko is inspired by some of the greats. You might be familiar with the work of Danny White (@ethan_windy) and Chris Ahalt (@cha_glass), two of her favorites. But go take a look at the pieces by Eunsuh Choi (@eunsuhchoi), Karina Guevin (@karinaguevin) and Cedric Ginart (@cedricginart), who are three of her other major influences. Their work is absolutely stunning.
Three months ago, Eriko moved out of her home creative space to an artist building in Seattle, where she has her own studio to create and plenty of space to grow. Her installation of “Chewy Thoughts,” made as an homage to “The Gum Wall” (a literal wall of gum in a downtown Seattle alleyway), is now on display at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport between baggage claim 7 and 8 for your in-person viewing pleasure. The installation will be there for the next six months, so go give it a peek next time you’re flying into or out of Seattle.
When asked about her vision of the future of glass art, Eriko said, “My vision is to continue developing techniques that combine playfulness with strong conceptual grounding. I hope to create work that feels accessible, surprising and uniquely tactile.” Regarding the growing market, she stated, “For the industry as a whole, I hope to see more diversity in techniques and voices, more cross-disciplinary collaboration and a growing appreciation for process-driven work. I also want to help build communities where knowledge is shared openly, so that more people can fall in love with glass.”
We tend to feature a lot of functional glass art in this column, but this month, the Leaf wanted to provide something a little different for our readers: art just for the sake of art. We hope you enjoy the images of this amazing work as much as we do. Take a minute (or more) to dive into the visual aspects as deep as you see fit. Experiencing any kind of art creates space in our mind for reflection, self-healing and an overall focus on our personal wellness.
Check out Eriko Kobayashi on Instagram (@eriko_glass). To find out about the availability of her work or commission a piece for yourself, send her a direct message.
