Education
2021–2025
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Global Art Practice, Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
2024
Guest Student (1 semester), Master of Fine Art, Trondheim Academy of Fine Art, Norway
2023
Exchange Student, Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Medium- and Material-Based Art, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway
2022, 2025
Guest Student (2 semesters), Master’s Program in Cultural and Social History, Ilisimatusarfik (University of Greenland), Greenland
2016–2018
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Medium- and Material-Based Art, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway (transferred in 2016 from Peter Behrens School of Arts, University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf, Germany)
2009–2011
Goldsmith Education, Copenhagen Technical College, Denmark (Apprenticeship at Aurum Icelandic Design, Reykjavík, Iceland; received Danish Journeyman Certificate in Goldsmithing)
Upcoming Projects
2026
Collection Exhibition, Tokyo Geidai Open Archive 2026 (from the University Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts), Viva Toride, Japan
2026
Artist-in-Residence, 92NY Jewelry Artist Residency, The 92nd Street Y Jewelry Center, New York, USA
2026
Group Exhibition, Vevringutstillinga (Vevring Art Exhibition), Vevring, Norway (invited)
2026
Group Exhibition, Coexistences, 3rd Lisbon Contemporary Jewellery Biennial, Lisbon, Portugal (curated, invited)
2026
Group Exhibition, Smykkernes By 26 (The City of Jewellery), organized by the Copenhagen Goldsmiths’ Guild, Copenhagen, Denmark (invited)
2026
Artist-in-Residence, Kunstnarhuset Messen, Ålvik, Norway
2026
Curated Art Project, Sequence as Medium (hybrid program), Tenthaus, Oslo, Norway
Professional Activities
2026
Publication, Academic Article for the Japan Polar Research Association
2026
Artist-in-Residence, collaboration with Nuuk Art Museum, funded by the Danish Arts Foundation, Greenland
2026
Webinar, Historie om Glasperler for Verdensborger (History of Glass Beads for Global Citizens), The Greenlandic Society, Denmark
2025
Artist Talk, Arctic Institute, Polar Library, Arctic Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark
2025
Artist-in-Residence, Leveld Kunstnartun, Ål Municipality, Norway
2025
Workshop, Jewellery Workshop for Children, Nitja Centre for Contemporary Art, Lillestrøm, Norway
2023
Workshop, Underwater Cables: Practices in Telematic Performances, Trondheim Academy of Fine Art, Norway
Awards
2025
Purchase Prize for Best MFA Graduate, The 73rd Graduation Exhibition, Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
2018
FKDS Student Stipend, Award for Best BFA Graduate, BFA in Medium- and Material-Based Art Graduation Show, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway
Grants and Scholarships
2026
Research Grant, Nomura Foundation (research stay in Greenland)
2026
Artist-in-Residence Grant, Danish Arts Foundation (residency in Greenland)
2026
Fellowship, Norske Grafikeres Verksted (supported by Norwegian Printmakers Fund)
2025
Travel Grant, Toshiaki Ogasawara Memorial Foundation (Artist-in-Residence in Norway)
2025
Research Grant, The Scandinavia–Japan Sasakawa Foundation (research stay in Greenland)
2025
Research Grant, Nomura Foundation (research stay in Greenland)
2024
Research Grant, Japan Polar Research Association (research stay in Greenland)
2023
Travel Grant, Norwegian Association for Craft Artists (short research stay in Greenland)
2023
Research Grant, The Scandinavia–Japan Sasakawa Foundation (research stay in Greenland)
2019
Miscellaneous Grant for Emerging Artists, Arts Council Norway
Collections / Acquisitions
2025
The University Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts — WREST (installation)
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025
Art Award Marunouchi Tokyo, Group Exhibition of 20 Selected MFA Graduates, Tokyo, Japan (invited)
2025
Nærverk – Jewellery and Wearable Ideas, Nitja Centre for Contemporary Art, Lillestrøm, Norway (curated, invited)
2025
The 73rd Graduation Exhibition, The University Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
2024
Nobuyuki Fujiwara Retirement Commemorative Exhibition, Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan (invited)
2024
The World is a Knot in Motion, MFA in Medium- and Material-Based Art Graduation Show, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway
2024
Utkast, MFA Group Exhibition, Galleri Blunk, Trondheim, Norway
2023
KHiO Displaced, Melting Point Jewellery Festival, Valencia / Legnica / Munich
2023
The Sound of a Seed, MA1 Group Show, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway
2023
COVEN – Three Jewellery Artists from a New Generation, Kunstbanken Hedmark Art Centre, Hamar, Norway (curated, invited)
2018
The 32nd Marzee International Graduate Show, Galerie Marzee, Nijmegen, Netherlands (invited)
2018
Avgang, BFA Graduation Show, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway
Membership
Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts
Sayo Ota 