Glass artist Noriko Herron creates works that evoke the organic forms of nature, shaped by the passage of deep time. Since launching her own brand in 2012, NORIKO HERRON GLASS+ART, she has produced a wide range of pieces centered on jewelry. Her practice also extends to art boards that embed glass into plaster and stucco, as well as sculptural interior works such as chandeliers. In 2023, she was invited to exhibit at The Transparent Breath 2023 in Venice, where her dynamic and emotive glass jewelry drew attention from journalists around the world.
Right image: Glass artist Noriko Herron wearing pieces she designed.
Left image: The newly opened NORIKO HERRON GLASS+ART gallery and shop.
Until recently, she worked without a fixed base, presenting her pieces primarily through solo exhibitions and art events in galleries. In April 2025, she realized a long-held vision of filling a space of her own with her work. The result is a newly opened gallery and shop, where a solid, cohesive world that resonates with her creations is brought together.
1st image: New works are also on display, including Volcano, a black plaster piece inspired by a dark beach shaped by flowing lava and the shimmering fusion of drift ice.
2nd image: In the foreground is the signature chandelier Angelica.
“While I usually shape my work through burner techniques based on an image in mind, there are moments when I let the glass take the lead,” Herron says. “Unexpected forms often spark new ideas.” In many ways, her life has unfolded in the same way, shaped by chance encounters and unplanned discoveries.
Her journey into creation began when she was searching for lighting for a new home after marrying her American husband. When she couldn’t find a design she liked in Japan, she decided to make her own, combining ironwork with glass components sourced abroad. The excitement of bringing something entirely original into form drew her deeper into the material, eventually leading her to a glassblowing studio.
Her jewelry is bold and voluminous, yet when worn, the pieces naturally conform to the body’s contours.
Her curiosity first took shape in 2008 with the Artigiano collection, which featured chandeliers and plaster-based works. In 2012, she went on to master borosilicate glass, known for its exceptional clarity and durability, leading her to create jewelry that feels almost like wearable objects.
Seeking to move beyond the boundaries between interior design and fashion, and to create jewelry that allows for a borderless expression of personal identity, she launched her eponymous brand, NORIKO HERRON GLASS+ART.
The signature Spider Series, inspired by a spiderweb caught on a chandelier, shimmering in the light.
Infused with a deep passion for glass in flux, her jewelry reflects an imagination brought fully to life. The Spider Series, often seen as the essence of the brand, features metallic finishes that highlight the form itself while enhancing its presence as fashion. The Black Glass series features necklaces made from technically challenging black glass, designed to be worn in multiple ways depending on how the hook clasp is arranged.
Her emotive approach to combining pieces is also a defining aspect of her work.
The gallery and shop, where Herron’s singular works come together, opens on an irregular basis and is accessible by appointment only, emphasizing private viewings. This approach reflects a desire for visitors to experience her jewelry and art in an intimate setting, where boldness and delicacy, brilliance and quiet shimmer intersect.
Custom orders based on existing works are also available, along with styling advice from the artist herself. Whether your interest lies in the artistry, the jewelry, or the material itself, it’s a space to immerse yourself in the fluid, ever-evolving possibilities of glass.
Photos courtesy of NORIKO HERRON
NORIKO HERRON GLASS+ART
Address: 1F Lapis Harajuku, 3-8-6 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Website: https://www.norikoherron.com/
