Jo Ko

Jo Ko is a first-generation Chinese American, self-taught ceramic artist based in her hometown of Oakland, California. She earned her BFA in Design from San Jose State University in 2013 and spent ten years working across the design industry—from nonprofit documentary storytelling to art direction in the photo industry. After years of creative work in digital spaces, she was drawn to ceramics as a more tactile, expressive medium. A single workshop revealed her ability to translate her design knowledge into sculptural form. Jo’s sculptural work is rooted in the surreal and organic, often drawing inspiration from microscopic ecosystems, imagined organisms, and ambiguous forms. Her process embraces unpredictability and transformation. Jo was a part of the Winter 2025 Greenhouse Resident Artist cohort at Mendocino Art Center. She has exhibited at Fog Fair x Works in Progress 2026, CCACA, SOMArts, Julie Steingart Gallery, and at Cult Aimee Friberg.