ABOUT THE ARTIST

Nam Woo Cho is a contemporary jewelry artist residing in Silver Spring, Maryland.  He was born in Korea.

ABOUT THE WORK

Nam Woo Cho uses Damascus steel as the foundation of his jewelry.  Each piece is hand forged and crafted

DAMASCUS STEEL

Physically separate pieces of metal are joined by fusion welding. In this technique two or more sheets, strips, or bars of iron and steel, are heated to a high temperature, making a composite bonded metal unit.  It was a Persian concept that soft wrought iron was female, and the hardenable carbon steel was male; therefore in laminated damask steel where they were combined, a synthesis or balance of the sexes was achieved by forge welding. -Oppi Untrachi

EDUCATION

1986, MFA in Jewelry Design and Silversmithing, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio

TEACHING

1998, lecturer, Maryland institute of Art, Baltimore, Maryland
1984-86, teaching Assistant, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
1985, Studio Assistant, Appalachian Center for Crafts, Smithville, Tennessee

EXHIBITIONS

2003  “Artists at the Forge,” Patina Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
1999   Aaron Faber Gallery, Japanese Metal Technique, New York, NY

HONORS

2004  American Craft Council, Charlotte, NC, Achievement Award
2005  Smithsonian Craft Show – Silver Award
        The Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Grant
2003  Best of Show Award, ACC Baltimore Craft Fair, Baltimore, MD