Haguri Takeshi (born 1957 in Nagoya, Japan) is a contemporary Japanese sculptor who primarily works with wood. He graduated from the Department of Sculpture and the graduate school at Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music, and has been creating since the 1980s. Camphor wood is his principal material, occasionally combined with metal elements.
His works merge tradition and modernity, imbued with theatrical tension. The figures are exaggerated yet composed, often adorned with masks and full-body tattoos that reference Noh theater, festivals, and ukiyo-e culture. The tattoos are meticulously hand-painted by his collaborator, Miki Nagasaki, adding further depth and dimension to the sculptures.
Over the years, his themes have evolved—from the lighthearted “Musicians” series, to depictions of rebellious youth in “Yankees,” to gangsters and outlaws in “Outlaws,” and more recently the “Matsuri” series, which blends festival imagery, folklore, and characters drawn from ukiyo-e. These works consistently reflect his interest in social outsiders and cultural symbols.
Haguri’s sculptures range from small-scale pieces to monumental works over two meters tall, many of which are installed in public spaces across Japan. He has held solo exhibitions in Tokyo and Nagoya, participated in sculpture exchanges in Japan and Germany, and presented works at international art fairs, securing his distinctive place in contemporary art.
