Sho Ota

Overview

Sho Ota's practice is rooted in his experience of producing wooden furniture prototypes in Japan. Now based in Eindhoven, Sho expresses his longtime fascination for wood through the objects he creates, bringing to life a dialogue of cultures. ⁠

After graduating from Design Academy Eindhoven with a MA in Contextual Design in 2018, Sho established his own design studio soon after, when realising that his desire to expose the structure of the material couldn’t be achieved through mass production. Sho Ota’s work has been critically recognised through industry awards, including as Finalist and Special Mention of IMM Cologne Pure Talents Contest in 2020 and Finalist of Design Parade Hyères in 2019.

At the intersection of industrial design and craftsmanship, his sculptural works are both minimalistic and multi-layered. Every piece is handmade by Sho himself. The development of the final form appears slowly through the making process and also depends on the wood – its appearance and texture can vary, making each piece unique.

Works