Kuramata was born in Tokyo and graduated the Department of Interior Design at the Kuwasawa Design Institute in 1956. After working at the Advertisement Department of San-ai Co. and the Interior Design Department of Matsuya Co., he establishes Kuramata Design Office in 1965. Shiro designs a long list of furniture, products, and commercial facilities including Seibu Department Store Capsule Corner. In 1981 he joins Memphis at Ettore Sottsass’s invitation. With his solo exhibition in Paris in 1989 he gained high international recognition. Later on, he received the Mainichi Industrial Design Award, and the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

His design expressing gravity and floating feeling in unique sensitivity made an impact to the design area. His representative works includes furniture such as Miss Blanche, Glass Chair, How High the Moon, and a number of commercial architecture includes Issey Miyake's boutiques. After his death, the exhibition ‘’Shiro Kuramata 1934-1991’’ at Hara Museum of Contemporary Art of 1996 toured 7 cities around the world.

AVENUE ROAD carries a curated assortment of Shiro Kuramata pieces.

Visit Shiro Kuramata