Receiving his B.F.A. and M.FA from Hongik University, Seoul, Korea, Shin Sang Ho has been a faculty member of the Hongik University since 1980. He was once the dean of Hongik University’s College of Fine Arts and of the Graduate School of Industrial Arts. His early works originating from traditional celadon, porcelain and bunchung have developed into modern ceramics of a total new approach. After a year as an exchange professor at Central Connecticut State University, Shin’s works went through another transition and emerged in a rather different sculptural form. The very first abstract ceramic sculpture exhibition at Press Center, a Seoul gallery in 1987 represented a break from clay’s traditional expression. As a member of the committee of The East and West Modern Ceramic Exhibition and of the International Workshop for the ‘88 Seoul Olympic Games, he showed the direction that the modem ceramics movement in Korea should take. Shin’s abstract bunchungs expressed in animal or human figures as ceramic sculptures presented in the 1991 exhibition at the Chosun newspaper gallery were expected to establish a firm foundation for modem ceramic art and to bring his traditional works to a final stage. The “Head” series at the Dong-a gallery exhibition in 1994 was consistently showing his evolving towards ceramic sculpture and some are displayed at the entrance, front lobby, and pool garden of the Hyatt Hotel in Seoul. The Africa, Art of a Continent exhibition held in London which drew much international attention when he was a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Art (1995-1997) inspired him to work on his “Dream” series. He was deeply impressed by the primitive energy of African art and its artistic nature that strengthened with time. Shin’s Millennium Tie installed on the exterior wall of Central City in Seoul along with several “Dream” series collected and displayed throughout the Marriot Hotel since 2001 paved the way to the beginning of the “Fired Painting” series. His identity as an artist was once again reinforced not only nationally but internationally as well through his solo exhibitions titled Dream of Africa at gallery Hyundai, Seoul and Long House Reserve, NY in 2004. The amazing variety of the 2005 “Dream of Africa” series and of the “Fired Painting” series at Gallery IHN presumptively suggested the artist’s next step. A unique combination of the artist’s creative passion and of technology made the “Fired Painting” series possible and is characterized by the unique range of its vibrant colors.

Shin directed The World Contemporary Ceramics exhibition as a chief curator and also served as a member of the advisory committee of the Foundation for the World Ceramic Exposition. He was also a member of the jury for The 2nd World Ceramic Biennale International Competition in Korea in 2003 and for The International
Ceramics Festival in Mino, Japan in 2005. Many of Shin’s special lectures and research papers were presented in 2003 at the Oslo International Ceramics Symposium and at the International Ceramic Workshops, WOCEF and in 2004 at the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale Symposium and Workshop.

Selected Exhibitions: 20 solo exhibitions and 80 group exhibitions

Selected Collections: The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea / Museum of Hongik University, Seoul, Korea / Museum of Korea University, Seoul, Korea /HOAM Museum. Yong-in, Korea / The Everson Museum, Syracuse, NY / The Victoria and Albert Museum, London / The British Museum, London / The Royal Marimont Museum, Brussels, Belgium / The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland / The Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario / The National Ceramic Museum, Sevres, France / Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu, Japan / World Ceramic Exposition Foundation, Ichoon World Ceramic Center, Gyeonggi, Korea

Present:
Professor, College of Fine Arts, Hongik University, Seoul
Director, Clayarch Gimhae Museum, Gimhae Cultural Foundation
Member of the Advisory Committee, World Ceramic Exposition Foundation
Director, Bongre Cultural Foundation
Member of the International Academy of Ceramics (I.A.C)
Director, Jinro Cultural Foundation