Akira Hara (b. 1976) is an internationally recognized Japanese glass maestro based in Murano, celebrated for his distinctive interpretation of the centuries old Venetian glassblowing tradition. Known for uniting meticulous craftsmanship with a contemporary artistic sensibility, Akira has become a leading figure in the evolution of murrine work, creating sculptural glass vessels that evoke movement, woven textures, and the atmospheric qualities of his adopted home in Venice.
Born in Gifu, Japan, Akira knew from childhood that he wished to dedicate himself to a craft, though the medium had not yet revealed itself to him. A transformative encounter occurred during a visit to a gallery in Hokkaido, where he saw Venetian glass for the first time and became captivated by its technical and expressive potential. This discovery set him on a path to explore European glass furnaces, eventually leading him to Murano. At twenty two, he returned to the island with a firm commitment to master the discipline. He began his training at the Pagnin furnace and, through remarkable discipline and natural aptitude, achieved the status of maestro in only five years, a distinction rarely reached so swiftly in Murano’s rigorous apprenticeship system.
Since 2004, Akira has continued to work as a maestro at Gianni Seguso, one of Murano’s most respected glasshouses. His practice combines the precision of a designer, the analytical mind of a mathematician, and the intuition of a seasoned glassblower. Through these strengths he creates works that defy the perceived limitations of molten glass, transforming an unruly and fragile medium into refined, harmonious forms. Akira’s pieces are instantly recognizable for their flowing patterns, soft optical textures, and a sense of movement that dissolves the boundary between fabric and glass. The ongoing collaboration with his wife, Nozomi, enriches this exploration, bringing research in weaving and textile structures directly into the vocabulary of contemporary glass.
Today, Akira continues to challenge and expand the possibilities of Murano glass, contributing a distinctly modern voice to one of the world’s oldest artistic traditions.
2025 Brera Design Week, UNA STANZA, Gallery Sofia Zevi, Milan
2025 Salon Art plus Design, Ippodo Gallery, Booth B4, New York
2024 NOMAD St Moritz, Switzerland
2023 Brera Design Week, UNA STANZA, Gallery Sofia Zevi, Milan
2022 The Venice Glass Week, CHIARASTELLA CATTANA, Venice
2018 Glass Art Society, Forty Seventh Annual Conference, Murano
2016 Venice Carnival, Public Demonstration, Piazza San Marco
2014 Introduced as a Murano maestro at a Japanese glass conference by Tomokazu Igarashi
