Ikebana Gallery Award 2025
First, we are very grateful to our wonderful judges who generously gave us their valuable input.
Thank you Ms Susan Renouf (Board Member at International Specialised Skills Institute, Former Adjunct Professor, Fashion & Textiles, RMIT University), Dr Yoshiho Kobayashi (Visiting Researcher at Ritsumeikan University, 立命館大学客員研究員; Senior Adviser, International Society of Ikebana Studies), Ms Hiroe Swen (Ceramic Artist, Former Lecturer, Australia National University), Mr Ken Smith ( Artist, Former Lecture, the Faculty of Art and Design at Monash University), Ms Lesley Kehoe (Lesley Kehoe Galleries) and Dr Osamu Inoue (Professor, Saga Art College, 嵯峨美術大学教授; President, International Society of Ikebana Research)
Their contribution made this international award, the world's first online Ikebana competition truly unique. It is so rare for Ikebana students to be assessed and to receive comments from art specialists like our judges. Please visit the “Judges” page for their profiles.
Our judges were asked to choose three works out of the seven finalists in the order of their preference and the results were as follows:
Ms Renouf: D, B, G
Mr Smith: C, D, G
Dr Kobayashi: D, F, A
Thank you Ms Susan Renouf (Board Member at International Specialised Skills Institute, Former Adjunct Professor, Fashion & Textiles, RMIT University), Dr Yoshiho Kobayashi (Visiting Researcher at Ritsumeikan University, 立命館大学客員研究員; Senior Adviser, International Society of Ikebana Studies), Ms Hiroe Swen (Ceramic Artist, Former Lecturer, Australia National University), Mr Ken Smith ( Artist, Former Lecture, the Faculty of Art and Design at Monash University), Ms Lesley Kehoe (Lesley Kehoe Galleries) and Dr Osamu Inoue (Professor, Saga Art College, 嵯峨美術大学教授; President, International Society of Ikebana Research)
Their contribution made this international award, the world's first online Ikebana competition truly unique. It is so rare for Ikebana students to be assessed and to receive comments from art specialists like our judges. Please visit the “Judges” page for their profiles.
We are pleased to announce that the winners of the 2025 Ikebana Galley Gold Award is Camelia Ileana Țîrlescu (D) and the 2025 Ikebana Galley Silver Award is Eli Alfina (C) and the Ikebana Gallery Bronze Award goes to Olena Kanshyna (E) and Ngoc Lan Nguyen (G). Those students will receive a certificate (digital file) from Ikebana Gallery.
Our judges were asked to choose three works out of the seven finalists in the order of their preference and the results were as follows:
Ms Renouf: D, B, G
Mr Smith: C, D, G
Dr Kobayashi: D, F, A
Ms Kehoe: E, C, G
We allocated 3 points to the first choice, 2 to the second and 1 to the third. The results were 8 points for D (Gold Award), 5 points for C (Silver Award), 3 points for E & G (Bronze Award). Following are comments from our judges for each work.
We allocated 3 points to the first choice, 2 to the second and 1 to the third. The results were 8 points for D (Gold Award), 5 points for C (Silver Award), 3 points for E & G (Bronze Award). Following are comments from our judges for each work.
日本の皆様からのご投稿も歓迎いたします。詳細はこちら。
(A)
Name: Le Hong Hanh (Fb: DangNhi)
Address: Ha Noi, Viet Nam
School: Ikebana Sogetsu
Teacher: Ta Kim, Nguyen Thanh Hien
(B)
Name: Kouki Tanno
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
Materials: Agapanthus, Clerodendrum bungei, Hosta, Gypsophila
Teacher: Elizabeth
Susan Renouf: I love the many different shades of green, and the simple elegance of this arrangement, using different elements, shapes and sizes.
(C)
Name: Eli Alfina
Address: Milan, Italy
School: Ikebana Sogetsu
Teacher: Ekaterina Seehaus
Ken Smith: This arrangement exploits multiple aspects of contrast to masterful effect. The contrast between light and dark, between colours, between positive and negative spaces, and between larger and smaller plants forms. All these are presented in an elegant vessel to create an arresting drama of natural forms.
Lesley Kehoe: A very appealing sophisticated work, rich colours beautifully blended, emotionally and aesthetically impactful.
(D)
Name: Camelia Ileana Țîrlescu
Hometown: Bucuresti, Romania
Teacher: Florentina Vinica Barbu
Ken Smith: This is a lively work that uses the complex curves of, and reflections within, the transparent glass container to set the scene for a dynamic and energetic arrangement. This energy is well contained and resolved by the ring of fine filament that is at the centre of its cluster of forms.
Susan Renouf: I found it hard to separate my first 2 choices, but I love the vessel ( vase ) here and the skill in using it to such good effect. It is delicate, graceful and appealing.
(E)
Name: Olena Kanshyna
School: Ikenobo Ukraine
Sensei: Svitlana Honcharenko
Lesley Kehoe: There is a beautiful serenity to this traditional interpretation. It is especially significant given the war and turmoil in Ukraine. It expresses a feeling perhaps difficult to sense in a country at war, expressing hope that this serenity will soon pervade the country and peace with ensue.
(F)
Name: Tarannum Lakda
School: Sogetsu Ikebana
City: Karachi
Country: Pakistan
(G)
Name: Ngoc Lan Nguyen
Address: Ha Noi, Viet Nam
Materials: Kitchen tools and glass vase
Teacher: Thanh Hien Nguyen
Ken Smith: This is a playful and delightful re-invention of the traditional ikebana genre without using plant forms. This arrangement does however use an understanding of the traditional elements of colour, harmony, repetition and contrast that will bring a smile to an open-minded viewer.
Lesley Kehoe: This practitioner to be compliment on her creative original approach.
Susan Renouf: Whilst not strictly a traditional floral Ikebana arrangement, I enjoy this quirky approach, giving form and beauty to the everyday items we all have hanging around in our kitchens.
Congratulations to all the winners!
Please contact Ikebana Gallery Award at ikebana.gallery@gmail.com to request your digital certificate by 30 November 2025.
You may list your achievement on your CV as follows:
Gold Award, Ikebana Gallery Award 2025, presented by the International Society of Ikebana Research (ISIR).
履歴書の受賞歴には次のようにご記入下さい。（例）2025年度国際いけ花学会主催いけ花ギャラリー賞金賞
Our next entry period will be 24–30 June 2026. We look forward to receiving more inspiring works from ikebana students around the world for the first online Ikebana Award.
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