Shin Sangho is an artist who has opened new horizons in contemporary ceramics by moving beyond the traditional functional concept of pottery, integrating painterly and sculptural elements into his practice. In the early 1990s, he expanded ceramics into the realm of three-dimensional painting through the concept of “ceramics + sculpture,” developing a distinctive visual language characterized by bold colors and primal forms.

His Structure & Force series, inspired by his travels in Africa, employs the motif of the horse to symbolically express vitality, structure, and the tension of force. His large-scale works combine painterly surfaces with sculptural form, creating a unique aesthetic in which primitivism and modernity coexist.

His artistic vision was comprehensively presented in the solo exhibition Infinite Variation (2025–2026) at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. In recognition of his contributions to Korean contemporary art, he was awarded the Order of Civil Merit, Moran Medal, in 2002, followed by the Order of Cultural Merit, Okgwan Medal, in 2025.

His works are held in major international collections, including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea; the British Museum; the Victoria and Albert Museum; and the Cleveland Museum of Art. He is widely regarded as a leading figure in contemporary Korean ceramics and sculptural art.

Education
B.A. in Ceramics, Hongik University, Republic of Korea
M.A. in Ceramics, Hongik University, Republic of Korea

Awards & Grants
Order of Cultural Merit, Okgwan Medal (2025) – awarded in recognition of his contributions to the field of ceramics
Order of Civil Merit, Moran Medal (2002)
Prime Minister’s Commendation (1988)
Special Prize, Korea Industrial Artists Association Competition
Special Prize, Korea Commercial Art Competition
Ceramics Award, Space (Konggan) Grand Exhibition

Public Collection
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea
Hongik University Museum, Republic of Korea
Korea University Museum, Republic of Korea
Ho-Am Art Museum, Republic of Korea
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, USA
Victoria and Albert Museum, United Kingdom
The British Museum, United Kingdom
Musée royal de Mariemont, Belgium
Cleveland Museum of Art, USA
Royal Ontario Museum, Canada
Sèvres – Cité de la Céramique, France
World Ceramic Center, Icheon (World Ceramic Exposition Foundation), Republic of Korea