I am inspired by both organic forms and architectures, especially buildings that are under construction. For me, all the details and elements that go into making a building are beautiful—including the reinforcing rod, ferroconcrete, and “skeletal” wood beams. Working with multiple gauges of gold, silver, and Shakudo wire and sheets in varied tones, I bring this mix of structure and spirituality into my own pieces, creating “see-through spaces.”
I am also influenced by current political and economic circumstances, as well as their interactions on the future of the global climate which all weigh heavily on our state of balance between mother nature and our human constructs.
To describe my process, I would use Jazz as a metaphor because it is organic and fluid. I move from the creation of one element then to the next, allowing the first element to influence the second, and so forth without intension until the piece is completed.
Using classic goldsmith techniques paired with contemporary designs, my work is laboriously fabricated. My goal is to express different forms of human experience and vision through architectural spaces, while maintaining a sense of lightness, flexibility, and transparency.
EXHIBITIONS
2019
Munich Jewelry Week, Popeye Loves Olive Art Space, Munich, Germany
NYC Jewelry Week, Mobilia gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
SOFA show, represented by Pistachios gallery, Navy Pier, Chicago, U.S.A.
SOFA and post exhibition, Pistachios gallery, Chicago, U.S.A.
2018
Spotlight show, ‘Reclamation’, Mobilia gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
‘Un/Seen’, Spotlight show, Mobilia gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
NYC Jewelry Week, NYC, U.S.A.
2017
Spotlight show, ‘Digilog’, Mobilia gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
Appropriated Adornment, Online Exhibition Platform of Society of North American Goldsmiths, SNAG//SPACE
'Special occasion', Mobilia gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
2016
Solo exhibition, Popeye Loves Olives, Athens, Greece
'Epoch', CC gallery, New Taipei city, Taiwan
‘Jewel: the inspiration in the past’ , The Museum of Human Evolution, Burgos, Spain
'Spotlight show', Mobilia gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
The 3rd International Biennial of Contemporary Metal Art "METALLOphone:Bonds",
(AV17) gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania
2015
Sieraad Jewelry Fair, Amsterdam, Netherland
Empreintes- Permanent 2015, Alliages Organization, Lille, France
‘The After Joya Effect II’, Popeye Loves Olive- Art Space, Athens, Greece
Spotlight show, Mobilia gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
Journey Through Time: Explorations of artful Adornment & Sculptural Objects through the ages, Mobilia gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
2014
Solo exhibition, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
JOYA-Barcelona Contemporary Jewelry, Barcelona, Spain
Spotlight show, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
Ring Show, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
2013
LOOT 2013: MAD about jewelry, Museum of Art and Design, New York City, U.S.A.
Objects of Status, Power & Adornment II , Mobilia gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
Contemporary Visions of the Necklace, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
2012
JOYA- Barcelona Contemporary Jewelry , FAD, Barcelona, Spain
Art for the Earring/ Art of the Ring , Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
Contemporary Visions of the Necklace , Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
2011
International Handwerksmesse Fair, Handwerk & Design, Munich, Germany
Studio Jewelry 2011 – Gem Prospectus , Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
2010
Vision Active-Biface , Galerie Soufflot, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
BKV Prize - Bayerischer Kunstgewerbe – Verein, Gallery of Applied Arts, Munich, Germany
Heirlooms of the Future, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
2009
SOFA New York, Park Avenue Armory, New York, U.S.A., Presented by Mobilia Gallery
NICHE Award exhibition, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
The Teapot Redefined, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
2008
Contemporary Visions in Metal, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
SOFA New York, Park Avenue Armory, New York, U.S.A., Presented by Mobilia Gallery
2007
Jewelry from painting and Architecture, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, U.S.A.
SOFA New York , Park Avenue Armory, New York, Presented by Mobilia Gallery & Gainro Gallery, Seoul
NICHE Award exhibition, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
2006
SOFA Chicago, Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, Chicago, U.S.A., presented by Mobilia Gallery
COLLECTIONS
Los Angeles County Museum of Art: LACMA, Los Angeles, U.S.A.
Racine Art Museum, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Kamm Teapot Foundation, North Carolina, U.S.A.
AWARDS
2015 Winner of ‘The After Joya Effect II’ Athens, Greece
2010 BKV Prize Finalist- Bayerischer Kunstgewerbe – Verein, Munich, Germany
2009 NICHE Awards finalist, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
2007 NICHE Awards finalist, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
2006 "Award of Honor", FIT, State University of New York, Commencement, New York, U.S.A.
PUBLICATIONS
American Craft, Page 18, Feb/March, 2018
The Art Jewelry, Kalmbach Publishing Co. Page 9, U.S.A., 2015
500 Art Necklaces, Page 127, Lark Books, New York/ London, 2013
500 Rings, Page 195 & 339, Lark Books, New York/ London, 2012
KUNSTHANDWERK & Design, Page 19, September/ October, Germany, 2010
500 Gemstone Jewels, Page 16, 94, 354, 395, Lark Books, New York/London, 2010
Warman’s Jewelry: Identification and Price Guide, Page 264, Krause Publication, 2010
Brooklyn 2 PM, Page 177-178, Maumsanchek, Seoul, Korea, 2010
NICHE magazine, Page 55, Vol.21, Williamsport, PA, 2009
500 Pendant & Locket, page 401, Lark Books, New York/London, 2008
ICON magazine, page 33 & 39, Volume 33, FIT, New York, 2008
HUE Alumni Magazine, page 25, Volume2/Number3, FIT, New York, 2008
ICON magazine, page 46-47, Volume 32, FIT, New York, 2007
American Craft, Page 31, Vol.67, No.5, American Craft Council, New York, 2007
Crart Magazine, Seoul, August, 2007
ICON magazine, Page 46, Vol. 31, FIT, New York, 2006
EDUCATION
Accessories Design, BFA, 2008
Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York, U.S.A.
Jewelry Design, AAS, 2006
Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York, U.S.A.
© Jee Hye Kwon