Koichi Io
Metalwork
KOICHI IO
Born in Tokyo in 1987, he comes from a family of metalworkers, both his grandfather and father, and studied under his father from an early age. After training in Japan, he studied metal shaping in Seoul, Korea. Using traditional hammering techniques as his core, he creates elegant vessels that combine flowing forms with modern design.
He was selected as a finalist for the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize in 2019. His works are currently held in major collections both in Japan and abroad, including the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art and the Ashmolean Museum.
CV
Educational background
2012 Completed the Inkstone Master course at the College of Fine Arts, Department of Design, Seoul National University
2009 Graduated from Musashino Art University, Faculty of Art and Design, Department of Industrial, Craft and Design
award
2022 2nd Lions Club Hanau Youth Encouragement Award, Silver Triennale
2020 Newcomer Award at the 67th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
2019 Loewe Craft Prize Finalist
2018 Bavarian State Prize (Bayerischer Staatspreis)
2011 “Inhorgenta Award 2011” Finalist
2009 6th Cheongju International Craft Biennale, Achievement Award
Exhibition
2020 67th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (Japan)
“Collect”, Katie Jones Gallery at Somerset House, London, UK
2019 “LOEWE Foundation Craft Prize 2019”, Sogetsu Kaikan (Tokyo, Japan)
“Masterpiece”, Katie Jones Gallery at The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, UK
“Collect”, Katie Jones Gallery at Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2018 “Eunique – Art Aurea Forum”, Messe Karlsruhe (Karlsruhe, Germany)
65th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (Japan)
“Masterpiece”, Katie Jones Gallery at The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, UK
“Exempla”, Handwerksmesse (Munich, Germany)
“Collect”, Katie Jones Gallery at Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2017 “PAD”, Katie Jones Gallery at Berkeley Square (London, UK)
“Geschmiedet”, Galerie Handwerk München (Munich, Germany)
64th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (Japan)
“Tresor”, Katie Jones Gallery at Messe Basel, Basel, Switzerland
“Collect”, Katie Jones Gallery at Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2016 “Masterpiece”, Katie Jones Gallery at The Royal Hospital Chelsea (London, UK)
“Introducing”, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, UK
“Unvollkommen vollkommen”, Eva Maisch Gallery, Würzburg, Germany
“Inhorgenta 2016 – Forum Silversmiths”, Munich (Germany)
2015 “PAD”, Katie Jones Gallery at Berkeley Square (London, UK)
8th Cheongju International Craft Biennale (Cheongju, South Korea)
“Collect”, Katie Jones Gallery at Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
“Inhorgenta 2015 – Forum Silversmiths”, Munich (Germany)
2014 “PAD”, Katie Jones Gallery at Berkeley Square (London, UK)
“Talente 2014”, Handwerksmesse (Munich, Germany)
“Collect”, Katie Jones Gallery at Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
“Inhorgenta 2014 – Forum Silversmiths”, Munich (Germany)
2013 “Collect”, Katie Jones Gallery at Saatchi Gallery (London, UK)
“Inhorgenta 2013 – Forum Silversmiths”, Munich (Germany)
2012 “Japanese Craft”, Erskine, Hall & Coe Gallery (London, UK)
“Collect”, Katie Jones Gallery at Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
“Inhorgenta 2012 – Forum Silversmiths”, Munich (Germany)
2011 “Collect”, Katie Jones Gallery at Saatchi Gallery (London, UK)
“Inhorgenta 2011 – Forum Silversmiths”, Munich (Germany)
2010 16th Silver Triennale (Hanau, Germany)
2009 6th Cheongju International Craft Biennale (Cheongju, Korea)
Graduation Exhibition, Department of Craft and Industrial Design, Metalwork Major, Spiral Garden (Tokyo, Japan)
Collection: Smithsonian National Asian Art Museum (USA)
Ashmolean Museum (UK)
Victoria and Albert Museum (UK)
Cheongju City (South Korea)