Masaru Takiguchi began sculpting at a very young age, experimenting with firewood that his father would bring home for the family’s hearth. Over time, he became known in his native Japan for camphorwood sculptures with intricate abstract patterns of great tactile interest. Interested in classical sculptures, Takiguchi also developed a parallel series of works in marble, of which The Ocean and the smaller-scaled Embracing are prime examples. Takiguchi immigrated to Houston in 1968, where he still resides. He has been a guest lecturer at the University of Houston several times and is the recipient of the Award of Excellence Houston AIA from Rice University. Orbit I and Orbit II, two of Takiguchi’s wood sculptures, can be found in at the University of Houston’s main campus.