Akiko Kurihara
statement
Casual discoveries in daily life, and small findings in physical phenomena which we unconsciously use.
I create jewelry pieces out of such discoveries using humor and wit in minimalistic ways.
I like to challenge myself to expand the possibilities of the jewelry, even if they are small objects.
And I expect that humor and wit in my work would connect me to the person wearing my piece, as well as to people seeing the piece.
education and career
2004-2010 education: Akademie der Bildenden Künste München, Schmuck und Gerät, diploma, Munich Germany, Prof.Otto Künzli
1999-2004 career: lecturer at Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry, Tokyo Japan
1998-1999 education: Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry, Tokyo Japan
1996-1998 education: Yamanashi Institute of Gemology and Jewelry Art, Kofu Japan
1975 born in Sapporo Japan
awards and scholarship
2018 27th International silver art competition -Illusion-, the 2nd prize and the Joachim Sokólski Award, Poland
2010 Meisterschüler Akademie der Bildenden Künste München, Germany
2007 Stipendien des Bayer Staatsministeriums für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst für Ausländische Studierende, Germany
1998 16th Asahi modern craft exhibition, the 3rd prize, Japan
1997 25th International pearl design contest, the 3rd prize, Japan
public collection
Alice and Louis Koch Ring Collection, Switzerland
Gallery of art in Legnica, Poland
Gallery Marzee, Holland
exhibitions
2019 DON'T FEED THEM (solo exhibition) / Gallery Funaki, Melbourne Australia
presentation at FRAME (by Gallery Annick Zufferey) / Handwerksmesse, Munich Germany
the thorns of jewelry / Hole in the wall, Tokyo Japan
2018 Asking for the moon (solo exhibition) / Gallery Annick Zufferey, Carouge Switzerland
The Language of Things: Meaning and Value in Contemporary Jewellery / The Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt New Zealand
27th International silver art competition -Illusion- / Gallery of art in Legnica, Legnica Poland
THINKING HANDS #01 / Irene Belfi gallery, Milan Italy
presentation at Collective Design Fair (by Sienna Patti Contemporary) / New York USA
presentation at FRAME (by Gallery Annick Zufferey) / Handwerksmesse, Munich Germany
Oh Be A Fine Girl, Kiss Me! (curated by Valentina Romen and Annalisa Rosso) / Milan Italy
2017 jewelry exhibition / Nobana art work in Ginza, Tokyo Japan
Non è Una Libellula -Arte Contemporanea e Manufatti- / uno spazio su misura, Milan Italy
Quand les perles sortent du rang / Gallery Annick Zufferey, Carouge Switzerland
icons at play / Brooklyn Metal Works, New York USA
mai più senza / mare culturale urbano, Milan Italy
SUMMER SYMPHONY IN LARK’S HEART / art gallery Putti, Riga Latvia
presentation at Hotel Art Fair Bangkok (by ATTA gallery) / Bangkok Thailand
the other side of the clouds / I-Land mini exhibition, ATTA gallery, Bangkok Thailand
All that glitters is not Silver, presentation by Akiko Kurihara / Legnica silver festival, Gallery of art in Legnica, Legnica Poland
presentation at Collective Design Fair (by Sienna Patti Contemporary) / New York USA
MUTATIS MUTANDIS -Arte Contemporanea e Manufatti- / uno spazio su misura, Milan Italy
THE CAT DID IT (solo exhibition) / Micheko Galerie, Munich Germany
2016 science is silver, silence is gold (solo exhibition) / gallery Pont&Plas, Gent Belgium
presentation, Itten-Ten (curated by Nishioka Pencil) / SHISEIDO THE GINZA, Tokyo Japan
trick or treasure (solo exhibition) / gallery deux poissons, Tokyo Japan
29th Japan jewelry competition / Tokyo Japan
20/20 / Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery, Saltaire United Kingdom
CONVERSATION WITH A CLOUD / art gallery Putti, Riga Latvia
Schmuck und Handwerkskunst aus Japan / Eva Maisch Schmuck, Würzburg Germany
UN' ALTRA COSA -Arte Contemporanea e Manufatti- / uno spazio su misura, Milan Italy
68th Schmuck / Schmuck2016, Handwerksmesse, Munich Germany
2015 Gravitazione / Paraventi Giapponesi Galleria Alessio Nobili & C., Milan Italy
stone scissors paper / Dojima Rhizome, Osaka Japan
exhibition / Fortuna, Sapporo Japan
Möbius / Micheko Galerie, Munich Germany
SMART -Arte Contemporanea e Manufatti- / uno spazio su misura, Milan Italy
2014 Contemporary Jewellery as Art: Paradigm Shifts / Yufuku Gallery, Tokyo Japan
Akiko Kurihara contemporary Jewelry exhibition (solo exhibition) / Toi, Osaka Japan
Zauber Box / Micheko Galerie, Munich Germany
MASS / Micheko Galerie, Munich Germany
2013 Itami international craft exhibition -jewelry- / Itami Museum of Art & Craft, Itami Japan
WAS IT A CAT I SAW? / Micheko Galerie, Munich Germany
2012 CHIAROSCURO -Arte contemporanea e Manufatti- / uno spazio su misura, Milan Italy
Flourish / Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery, Saltaire United Kingdom
exhibition / Fortuna, Sapporo Japan
151 / Micheko Galerie, Munich Germany
2011 exhibition of Contemporary Jewelry / Yufuku Gallery, Tokyo Japan
MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH / Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery, Saltaire United Kingdom
WEGE / Studio Galerie, Gmund am Tegernsee Germamy
Ultra Marine / Noblessner Foundry, Tallinn Estonia
exhibition / Schmuck Frage, Berlin Germany
HUTNAH / Micheko Galerie, Munich Germany
2010 Diplom Ausstellung -SERVUS- / Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Munich Germany
Meisterschüler 2010 Ausgewählte Arbeiten / Galerie der Künstler, Munich Germany
ZIMMER FREI / Hotel Mariandl, Munich Germany
International Graduation Show / Gallery Marzee, Nijmegen Holland
2009 Bonjour La Beauté by Yufuku Gallery / Les Comptoirs de la Tour d’Argent, Tokyo Japan
contemporary jewelry exhibition by jubilee / Gallery Umekobana, Iwate Japan
Exhibition of Contemporary Jewelry –Metal&Concept- / Yufuku Gallery, Tokyo Japan
Exhibition by Akiko Kurihara (solo exhibition) / Toi, Osaka, Japan
Itami international craft exhibition -jewelry- / Itami Museum of Art & Craft, Itami Japan
2008 2 / sahanji+, Shizuoka Japan
DES WAHNSINNS FETTE BEUTE / Pinakothek der moderne, Munich Germany
60th Schmuck, / Handwerksmesse, Munich Germany
emu, twist again / Gallery Funaki, Melbourne Australia
Jahresausstellung -So jung kommen wir nicht mehr zusammen- / Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Munich Germany
JUST MUST / Estonian History Museum, Tallinn Estonia
2007 Gray / sahanji+, Shizuoka Japan
7 guests invited by Karl Fritsch / art Cologne, Cologne Germany
Tatort -Bloody Mary- / Gallery Marzee, Nijmegen Holland
Jahresausstellung -Ich weiss wo du wohnst- / Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Munich Germany
new traditional jewelry SIERAAD -Symbol of faith- / SIERAAD award, Amsterdam Holland
2006 Tatort -Mark your Territory- / Gallery Marzee, Nijmegen Holland
Jahresausstellung -Lass´den Sonnenschein herein- / Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Munich Germany
various shape / Gallery Fusenkazura, Sapporo Japan
Jewelry artists from Munich / Gallery deuxpoissons, Tokyo Japan
15th International silver art competition -Scandal- / Gallery of art in Legnica, Legnica Poland
Gallery Funaki international jewelry award 2006 -connect- / Gallery Funaki, Melbourne Australia
Ausstellung der Finalisten BKV-Preis für junges Kunsthandwerk, Galerie BKV, Munich Germany
2005 14th International silver art competition -deconstruction, reconstruction- / Gallery of art in Legnica, Legnica Poland
Silver schools Gallery of art in Legnica, Legnica Poland
Itami international craft exhibition -jewelry- / Itami Museum of Art & Craft, Itami Japan
Tatort -Tatwort- / Gallery Marzee, Nijmegen Holland
Jahresausstellung -Aufgebockt- / Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Munich Germany
10th You / Harper’s mill, Kofu Japan
2004 Gold for Robert Smit -Metallic Yellow- / Stedelijk Museum CS, Amsterdam Netherland
Tatort -VIP- / Gallery Marzee, Nijmegen Holland
10 - Jewelry exhibition / Gallery Ac, Tokyo Japan
2003 contemporary jewelry exhibition / Gallery Wada, Tokyo Japan
2002 contemporary jewelry exhibition / Gallery Wada, Tokyo Japan
Sapporo Arts & Design / Gallery Ac, Tokyo Japan
2001 8 future jewelers / Gallery Arai Atelier, Tokyo Japan
Sapporo Arts & Design / Gallery Ac, Tokyo Japan
2000 5th You -ripple- / Harper’s mill, Kofu Japan
Sapporo Arts & Design / Gallery Ac, Tokyo Japan
10 - Jewelry exhibition / Gallery Ac, Tokyo Japan
Japan jewelry art competition / Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo Japan
1999 10 - Jewelry exhibition / Gallery Ac, Tokyo Japan
jewelry exhibition by 5 assistants / Gallery Yu, Tokyo Japan
1998 Japan jewelry art competition / Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo Japan
From Artist's Website