Jon Koko
Lund, Sweden, 1988
About
Lives and works in Malmö, Sweden
Jon Koko’s practice is rooted in memory, observation, and the subtle poetry of everyday spaces. His work reflects travels, fleeting impressions, and a fascination with the passing world, which he distills into serene, dreamlike landscapes. Employing a pale Scandinavian palette and simple, flattened forms, Koko constructs slow, contemplative compositions where motion is suggested through static scenes: rippling water, quiet streets, and still architecture. Human figures, when present, appear as delicate accents of color, harmoniously integrated into the surrounding environment, evoking balance, simplicity, and tranquility. Long captivated by Eastern philosophy and aesthetics, particularly Japanese visual traditions, Koko infuses his work with meditative qualities and understated elegance. Architectural principles, subtle surrealism, and spatial awareness inform his imagery, creating intimate, immersive environments. His practice is a continuous dialogue between memory, perception, and the poetic potential of space.
Jon Koko lives and works in Malmö, Sweden, and maintains close ties with Japan, where he has undertaken residencies and studied traditional art forms. He trained at the Karuizawa Mokuhanga School (Nagano) and the Kyoto International Mokuhanga School, complementing his studies in Japanese art, architecture, and visual culture in Uppsala, Sweden. Koko has exhibited internationally, with solo shows at Alzueta Gallery (Madrid), Norrgavel (Malmö), and Vacant Gallery (Tokyo). His work has appeared in group exhibitions across Europe, North America, and Asia, including Galerie Lulla (Los Angeles), and has been featured in fairs such as KIAF Seoul and ART Central Hong Kong. Koko’s art reflects a disciplined yet poetic vision, blending Eastern and Western influences to create contemplative, immersive spaces that capture the quiet resonance of lived experience.
CV
EDUCATION
Karuizawa Mokuhanga School, Nagano, Japan (2023)
Kyoto International Mokuhanga School, Kyoto, Japan (2017)
Japanese Art, Architecture and Visual Culture, Uppsala, Sweden (2014)
Spyken Fine Art Program, Lund, Sweden (2004 – 2007)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Minnen från hus och rum, Alzueta Gallery, Madrid, Spain (2025)
The Silent Meeting, Norrgavel, Malmö, Sweden (2024)
Anaba, Vacant Gallery, Tokyo, Japan (2024)
Solo Exhibition,Thimar/Westlin Gallery, Karlstad, Sweden (2014)
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Silent Resonance, Galerie Lulla, Los Angeles, USA (2024)
La Terre est bleue comme une orange, Alzueta Gallery, Madrid, Spain (2023)
New Landscapes, Alzueta Gallery, Barcelona, Spain (2023)
Group Exhibition, Espositivo, Madrid, Spain (2016)
Interstices, Quadri, Brussels, Belgium (2016)
Group Exhibition, VEST Gallery, Aarhus, Denmark (2014)
Group Exhibition, The Invisible Line Gallery, London, UK (2014)
ART FAIRS
DRAWING NOW, Alzueta Gallery, Paris, France (2026)
KIAF, Alzueta Gallery, Seoul, South Korea (2023)
ART CENTRAL, Alzueta Gallery, Hong Kong, China (2023)
ARTIST RESIDENCY
Wood Art Residence Bodafors, Bodafors, Sweden (2024)
