
Yoshinori Kondo began working with glass in 2001 inspired by the American Art Glass movement. At the time, Kondo was working at a clothing store in downtown Tokyo making handmade jewelry and began integrating glass into his practice.
With the little space he had, Kondo converted his kitchen grill into a small makeshift flameworking setup to test his abilities. Excited by the possibilities, he moved to rural Chiba prefecture to expand his capabilities and added borosilicate flameworking to his repertoire, the medium in which he works today.
By 2008, Kondo had grown to be a talented artist, but with Japan's limited market for the art form, he sought opportunities abroad and in 2009 started to gain great notoriety in the United States after collaborating with American marble master Josh Sable.
Since then, Kondo has had numerous exhibitions and demonstrations worldwide including Tokyo, Toronto, Amsterdam, Vancouver, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City where he is represented by Chesterfield Gallery. Through these exhibitions, Kondo has gained a global following and write-ups from Vice: The Creators Project and Art Zealous, among other noteworthy art publications.