Japan
1980s
Painted steel
9″ wide x 11″ deep x 15″ high

Masayaki Kurosawa’s work spans architectural design to industrial and product design, and interior design. He received his doctorate in Tokyo in 1967, subsequently opening his own design and architecture practice. Kurosawa has had a prolific career–he is often referred to as the “Godfather of Japanese Design.” He has won numerous international awards, such as Germany’s IF Awards and Japan’s Good Design Awards. His works are in the permanent collections at New York Museum of Modern Art, Denver Art Museum, and Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This desk lamp is a wonderful example of Kurosawa’s collaboration with Yamagiwa, a leading manufacturer of Japanese lighting. The distinct shape and use of primary colors is bold yet sleek, and doesn’t take itself too seriously.