Gen Saratani is a New York-based artist who works exclusively with the organic materials found in the traditional fine arts of Japan.
Following high school and college studies in the arts in Japan, where he grew up, he served a three-year apprenticeship with his father, Tomizo, a lacquer artist, and a two-year apprenticeship in the study of maki-e under Akira Takeda in Kyoto. He currently lives and works in New York as a only Urushi master in the country.
In addition to his own work as an artist, he has conserved thousands of works of art and lectured, led workshops, or given demonstrations on working with lacquer, conservation and Kintsugi at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Art and Design, the Fashion Institute of Technology, Parsons School of Design, and numerous other organizations.
Known as a pioneer in the popularity of kintsugi in recent years, he has created numerous artistic kintsugi works and also trained and produced many kintsugi artists in New York, the United States, and abroad.