[Special Bonus Available] Solo Exhibition of Kenji Sato, Creator of Popular Wooden Bears, at “Purveyors” – Expected to Sell Out

Around 50 Handmade One-of-a-Kind Wooden Bear Carvings to be Exhibited

Purveyors, a shop themed around travel and outdoor activities, will host a solo exhibition by master sculptor Kenji Sato, based in Asahikawa, Hokkaido.
This exhibition is realized under the direction of “ORIGAMUM HERITAGE STUDIO,” which handles creative and art direction for events and products primarily in Japan.

Kenji Sato has built his career since age 22 and has been active for over 50 years, with his works affectionately known as “Ken-chan Bears.”
His works uniquely arrange Hokkaido’s traditional wooden bears using chamfering techniques.
His exceptional craftsmanship creates pieces freehand with precise and detailed work without preliminary sketches.
This exhibition allows visitors to handle unique pieces created through half a century of experience and tens of thousands of polishing repetitions, featuring around 50 works including wooden bears.

Kenji Sato Profile

1950: Born in Furano City, the lavender town
1973: Studied under his brother Noriaki Sato, founder of “Sato Bears”
1985: Established independent creative woodcarving “Sato” in Asahikawa City
1996: Began carving owls with his unique method
2002: Focused on fish, creating salmon, flounder, sculpins, and deep-sea fish on various customer orders
2018: Introduced roughly cut carved bears as “Ken-chan Bears,” which he had been working on previously
Continues to present

Information

Kenji Sato Solo Exhibition
DATE: 2024/11/16(Sat) – 12/1(Sun)
PLACE: Purveyors Kiryu Store
2-11-4 Nakamachi, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture
TIME: 12:00-19:00 (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays)
URL: https://note.com/purveyors/n/na7f39e7fe7a6

Special Bonus

One person free from café menu groups at Gastero, the restaurant on Purveyors’ 1st floor.
(Limited to those who like and repost Kogei Japonica’s X or Instagram)
Please show the screen to staff.
*Only during exhibition period
Target X post: https://x.com/KogeiJaponica/status/1857185132203122747
Target Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXoeNYBwOJ/

Admission

Free

Venue

Purveyors Kiryu Store
Address: 2-11-4 Purveyors, Nakamachi, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture 376-0035
Phone: 0277-32-3446
Located 1km west on the street in front of Kiryu Station North Exit, on the right side. 15-minute walk.

About Purveyors

Opened in March 2017 in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, as a concept shop curating under the theme of bringing travel and fieldwork more into daily life.
The store name “Purveyors,” meaning “suppliers” or “providers,” reflects our hope that the products we select as purveyors while traveling will become our customers’ go-to items.
We select everything from our biased perspective, not just categorizing outdoor items, but including apparel and lifestyle products.
In July 2022, we opened Purveyors Nasu Branch, our second store, at GOOD NEWS in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture.
URL http://purveyors2017.jp/