introduction

The Studio

Bjorvala Bonsai Studio was founded in 2002 by Bjorn Bjorholm, former president and current vice president of the Knoxville Bonsai Society. The business, located in Knoxville, TN, offers a wide variety of bonsai related products and services. For more information please visit the links above.

Artist Profile

Bjorn Bjorholm was first introduced to bonsai at the age of 13 and has since helped found the Knoxville Bonsai Society and develop the annual Knoxville Bonsai Show. Bjorn also served on the southeastern editorial team for the NABF newsletter (North American Bonsai Federation). In 2002, Bjorn was chosen to participate in a 2-week cultural exchange program to Japan sponsored by Panasonic. Following this exchange, Bjorvala Bonsai Studio was founded.
The initial goal of the business was to provide pre-bonsai material and beginner level classes to individuals wanting to get started in the art. Today, however, Bjorvala Bonsai Studio functions as a promoter of classical Japanese bonsai design through a wide array of classes and offered plant material.

Bjorvala Bonsai Studio

Shimpaku by Masahiko Kimura

Bjorn Bjorholm is currently majoring in Japanese Language and World Business at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and spent the last year studying language at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. While in Japan, Bjorn had the opportunity to attend the Taikan-ten exhibition in Kyoto as well as the Kokufu-ten in Tokyo. He also visited the gardens of Saburo Kato & Masahiko Kimura in Tokyo, Koju-en in Kyoto, and Fujikawa Kouka-en in Osaka among others. Seeing the world's top bonsai first-hand and being able to speak to the masters in their native language has allowed Bjorn to develop his skills and understanding of classical Japanese Bonsai.
Bjorn Bjorholm was recently accepted as a full-time bonsai apprentice at Fujikawa Kouka-en in Osaka, Japan. In June 2008, he will return to Japan to undertake this apprenticeship.

Kunio Kobayashi's Shunka-en in Tokyo, Japan

With Ryan Neil, Masahiko Kimura's apprentice in Tokyo, Japan