Yumi Kori is a Japanese-born artist and architect based in New York and Tokyo. Kori majored in architecture at the Kyoto Prefecture University in 1983. She was awarded Japanese First Class Architect License in February, 1990. In 1991, she established Studio MYU Architects in Tokyo. Kori was enrolled in the Graduate School of Architecture at Columbia University and graduated in 1995. From 1996 to 2004, she was active as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Columbia and Barnard College and has taught Japanese architecture seminars and design studios. Additionally, she has lectured at many other Universities including Yale University, Parsons the new School for Design, Nagoya Institute of Technology Japan, and University of Brasilia. Along with her architectural projects and set designs for dance companies, Kori has created numerous art projects.

She works with the context of the place and transforms it into another space by using light, sound and architectural settings. Her installations invite visitors to walk into the space. Audiences experience the altered space through their body and senses. Thus the visitor discovers new spatial and temporal dimensions hidden in the existing space. Projects have been realized in public space, ruins, abandoned buildings and museums through out the world, including New York, Seattle, Washington DC, Berlin, Basel, Sao Paulo and Tokyo.

Kori is also the recipient of prestigious awards such as the AIJ Prize, Architectural Institute of Japan in 2015; Architectural environmental Award; Japan Institute of Architects in 2013, ARCASIA; Architects Regional Council Asia, Gold Medal in 2012; the ar+d award by The Architectural Review, London in 2002 and 2003; and The Tokyo Architectural Award in 1998.Kori has also received research grants from the Agency for Cultural Affairs in Japan to study the relationship between art and architecture in Public Art in 2004-2005. She has been invited by numerous art organizations as a guest artist, such as at ISCP, International Studio Curatorial Program, NY in 2004; Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Swing Space in 2005; Guest Atelier at Wartec, Basel, Switzerland 2006; Sacatar Foundation in Bahia, Brazil 2008; Urban Glass, NY in 2009; Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh in 2008 and 2011.

EDUCATION

M.S. Architecture, Columbia University, 1995
B. Architecture, Kyoto Prefecture University, 1983

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Professor at Osaka Institute of Technology, Design and Architecture, 2016 to present
Lecturer at Tokyo University of Science, Architecture and Design, 2010-2015
Lecturer at Kokushikan University, Tokyo, Architecture and Design, 2013-2015
Lecturer at Nagoya Institute of Technology, Department of Architecture and Design, Japan, 2005-2009
Adjunct Assistant Professor at Columbia University, New York, 1996 to 2004
Lecturer at Yale University, School of Architecture, 2003
Lecturer at Parsons School of Design, 1997
Design Consultant, Japan Nationality Room, Pittsburgh University 1997
Principal Architect, Studio MYU Architects Co. Ltd., Tokyo, 1991 to present
Awarded Japanese First Class Architect License, February, 1990

SELECTED ARTIST GRANT / INVITED RESIDENCY

Japan Foundation exhibition Grant 2015
Japan Foundation exhibition Grant 2014
Space you are in, Education grant. Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh, 2011
Urban Glass, New York, 2009
Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh,2008
Sacatar Foundation, Brazil, 2008
Warteck, Guest atelier, Basel, Switzerland, May, 2006
LMCC, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Swing Space Award, 2005
Study Abroad Award, Japan Agency of Cultural Affairs, 2004
ISCP, International Studio & Curatorial Program, New York, 2004

SELECTED AWARDS

AIJ Prize, Architectural Institute of Japan, 2015
The JIA Sustainable Architecture Award 2013 by The Japan Institute of Architects
Kobe Biennial, Art in Container award, Japan, 2007
Architectural Cultural Award, Chiba, Japan 2006
The ar+d award, The Architectural Review, London, 2002
Cityscape Award, Osaka, Japan 2002
Architectural Cultural Award, Chiba, Japan 2001
The ar+d award, The Architectural Review, London, 2001
Tokyo Architectural Award, Tokyo Association of Architectural Firms, 1998
Residential Architecture Award, Tokyo Society of Architects & Building Engineers, 1998
Interior Planning Award, First Place, Japan Architectural Education Center, 1998
Housing Reform Award, Japan Reform Center, 1999
Housing Design Award, Tokyo Gas Living Design Center, 1999
Passive Solar House Prize, OM Solar Organization Japan, 1997
Good Design Award, INAX Design Corporation, 1997
Interior Planning Award, Japan Architecture Dissemination Center, 1992

LECTURES / PRESENTATIONS

“Transforming Space by Art”
Osaka Institute of Technology, Nov.17 2021

Shunsuke Kurakata and Yumi Kori talk session “Beyond the Wall”
Gallery House of Nipponbashi, Osaka, Sep. 25 2021

Yo Shimada and Yumi Kori talk session “The Invisible Wall”
Gallery House of Nipponbashi, Osaka, Sep. 4 2021

Momoyo Homma and Yumi Kori talk session “The body that transcends the wall”
Gallery House of Nipponbashi, Osaka, Aug.1 2021

“Reviving Waterfront by Architecture, city design and social action.”
Terrace Kannan, Community Center, Osaka, Nov.15 2020

“Spatial design inspired by artistic perspective”
JIA, The Japan Institute of Architects, online seminar, September 2020

“Designing Future’s History”
Ibaraki Chamber of commerce, Japan, Dec. 2 2019

KIRA, Korean Institute of Registered Architects, Seoul, Apr. 23 2019

“MIRAI / SHORAI”
Osaka Association of Architectural Firms, Osaka, Jan. 23 2019

Giorgio Amitrano and Yumi Kori closing talk session
Rome Japan Foundation, Italy, Nov. 23 2018

Lecture at Rome Sapienza University, Nov. 22 2018

“Creating a living townscape by letting the buildings work -Historic townscape regeneration in Sawara, Chiba, Japan-”
Osaka Municipal Lifelong Leaning Center, May. 31 2018

“Between Art and Architecture”
Washington University, Fec. 28 2018

“House and town design in the future”
Satoyama Housing Expo, Kobe, Japan, Nov. 22 2016

“ARCHITETTURA E MEMORIA” e Luca Zevi
Italian Cultural Institute, Tokyo, Oct.11 2016

“Light Art”
Tokyo Big Site, Mar. 3 2015

”Reconstructing the spatial relationships -methods of regional revitalization- ”
Kobe University Graduate School, Jan.13 2015

“Spatial deisgn inspired by artistic perspective”
JIA, The Japan Institute of Architects, Architects Club, Tokyo, May.16 2014

“Discovering Comfort home”
Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Mar.12 2014

Keynote lecture at the ScanCeram, Denmark, September 2013

Arcacia Lecture at The Student Jamboree, Udayana University Bali, Indonesia, October 2012

"Site Transformation"
Kyoto Prefecture University Japan, November 2009

"Light Space"
Urban Glass New York, April 2009

"Space, Flow, Architecture"
University of Brasilia, Brazil, March 2010

"Scene, Sequence and Space"
Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan, Nov. 26 2007

"Designing Relationships - my Architectural Design Method -"
Sugiyama Jogakuen College, Japan, Dec. 2 2006

"Architecture derived from Spatial Experience".
Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nov. 30 2006

"Space, Place, and the Poetry of Light".
School of Visual Arts, New York, Nov.14 2006

"Infinitation"
SESC PINHEIROS, Brazil, Oct.10 2006

"Infinitation"
Guest corner, Basel Switzerland, Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, Hochschule fur Gestaitung und Kunst, May.10 2006

"Architecture as communication device"
Universidade Sao Marcos, San Paulo, Brazil, March 2006

" Art / Architecture"
Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Instituto de Artes Programa de P?s-Gradua??o em Artes, San Paulo, Brazil, March 2006

"Restructuring of relations"
JAI, The Japan Institute of Architects, Tokyo , December 2005

"Infinitation, Desire to disappear"
INARCH, Institute of Architecture, Rome, Italy, March 2005

"Infinitation"
COCA, Center on Contemporary Art Seattle, January 2005

" architecture as passage,"
Sekisui House Architecture Seminar, Mar. 22, 2004

"Panta Rhei," Gallery Talk
Maison Hermes Forum, June 2003

"Incessant Exploration,"
Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Oct.14, 2001

"Architecture as Third Human Skin," Architectural Presentation
Takanawa Prince Hotel / Sunwave, Feb. 13, 2000

"Frame, Frontality, Flow," Architectural Presentation
Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Oct.11, 1996

"Recent Projects in Relation to the Japanese Tradition,"
Long Island University, Dec.1, 1995

"Imagination and Space," Architectural Presentation
Sugiyama Joshigakuen University, Nov. 25, 1995

Site specific Installation in Ruin, Public Space, Museum and Gallery

2022

ENCOUNTER
Grand Front Osaka, Japan

2022

HOPE
House in NIppombashi, Osaka, Japan

2021

Green Airplane 2021
Osaka Institute of Technology, Osaka

2021

Awakening -Beyond the Wall-
Semba, Osaka, Japan

2021

Beyond the Wall
House in NIppombashi, Osaka, Japan

2021

TSUMUGU
Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan

2016

Architecture and Memory
Italian Cultural Institute,Tokyo

2016

INFINITY DEVICE
Light Art festival in Germany, Stuttgart, Goppingen

2015

HARUKA
Oscar Niemeyer Museum in Brazil, Curitiba Biennial 2015

2015

Window Space
Platform 102, Brussels

2014

Flight
Queens Museum of Art, New York

2013 - 2014

Can you see?
The National Art Center, Tokyo

2013

Mon -Portable Infinity Device-
shut up and listen! 2013 -END LESS NESS-, Vienna, Austria

2012

Green Airplane
Studio X Tokyo, Columbia University, Shibaura House, Tokyo

2011

Tamatebako
Mattress Factory, Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh, USA

2010

Matsukaze, Hand blown glass, Miyako Yoshinaga, New York, USA

2009

Matsukaze, Hand blown glass, light, sound installation
Urban Glass, New York, USA

2009

Utatane, video, sound and architectural installation
Moore College of Art GOLDIE PALEY GALLERY, Philadelphia, USA

2008

Another Sky, sound and architectural installation
Former Sugar Factory, MAM, Museum of Modern Art Bahia, Salvador, Brazil

2007 - 2008

Shinkai, audio-architectural installation
Japan Society, Making a Home: Japanese Contemporary Artists in New York

2007

Wandering Ark, audio-architectural installation
Kobe Biennale, Art in Container exhibition

2007

Jukai, audio-architectural installation
Brown University List Art Center, Bell Gallery, Providence, USA

2007

Infinitation/ SESC, audio-architectural installation
SESC PINHEIROS, San Paulo, Brazil

2006

Green Box / VT, public participatory project
Firehouse gallery, Burlington, Vermont, USA

2006

Utakata, audio-architectural installation
Former Beer Factory Warteck, Guest atelier, Basel, Switzerland

2006

shinkai, audio-architectural installation
ISE CULTURAL FOUNDATION, New York

2006

Floating Shadow, renovation of Old Miso storage house.
Cafe Shieto, Traditional Japanese town house, Chiba, Japan

2005

Green Balloon, participatory / light installation
Phatory Gallery, New York

2005

Infinitation, audio-architectural installation
Former Factory Building, COCA, Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle

2005

B^B, audio-architectural installation
LMCC, Swing Space, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New York

2005

Defragmentation/krems, audio-architectural installation
Minoriten Church Kapitelsaal, Krems-Stein, Austria

2005

Defragmentation/iscp, installation
ISCP, International Studio & Curatorial Program, New York

2005

Green Balloon, participatory / light installation
Phatory Gallery, New York

2004

Open Studio, installation
ISCP, International Studio & Curatorial Program, New York

2004

Sho-An, architectural installation
Ozone Plaza, Tokyo

2003

Panta rhei, architectural installation
Maison Hermes 8f Forum, Tokyo

2002

Kura Obscura, permanent installation
Old Storage House, Chiba, JAPAN

2002

Green Library, public art project. Worked as a curator.
The old Musashino public library building, Tokyo

2002

Green Box, paticipatory installation
The old Musashino public library building, Tokyo

2002

Green Voice, public installation
The old Musashino public library building, Tokyo

2002

Machina Temporis, audio-architectural installation
Franziskaner-Klosterruine, Berlin

2000

Defragmentation/red, audio-architectural installation
Kryptonale Contemporary Art Festival, Berlin

2000

Defragmentation/white, audio-architectural installation
Former Factory Building, Gallery Sigpro, Tokyo

1999

Defragmentation/blue, audio-architectural installation
Studio Five Beekman, New York

1997

sound and architectural installation architectural installation
Gallery La Ranne, Tokyo

Exhibition (Group show)

2009

A Matter of Light, exhibition
Elga Wimmer Gallery in Chelsea, New York

2009

Soften Your Eyes, exhibition
Miyako Yoshinaga. ART PROSPECTS, New York

2007

Big in Japan; MEDITATION ROOMS, exhibition
Mu project Gallery, Washington DC

2004

Faculty Recent Work Exhibition
Barnard Hall, Columbia University, New York

1994

Chi Vending Machine, interactive installation
Columbia Graduate School of Architecture

Stage design

2011

Stage Design for Memorial for Kobe Earthquake
Kobe International Conference Center, Kobe, Japan

2009

Yessified! , Stage Set for Sally Silvers & Dancers
Performance Space 122 NY

2007

Ruptable, Stage Set for Sally Silvers and Saint Joseph Ballet
Irvine Barclay Theatre, California, USA

2005

Puppy skills, Set design for Sally Silvers and Dancers
PS 122, New York

2005

Scramples, Set design for Sally Silvers and Dancers
The Construction Company, New York, April 2005

2003

Spaced Out, Set design for Sally Silvers and Dancers
DTW, Dance Theatre Workshop, New York, February 2003

Architecture designs

2015

Stairway to the Sky House, Tokyo

2015

Big /Small House 2, Tokyo

2015

Bio House F Duplex, Aichi, Japan

2013

Decoboco House, Tokyo

2013

Big /Small House, Tokyo

2012

Group Home for Alzheimer's disease, Mie, Japan

2012

Bio House F Model House, Aichi, Japan

2012

Inae, Innovative Historical Renovation, Sawara, Chiba

2011

Demodel Project

2009

House in the Air, Tokyo

2007

Cubic Loop House, Tokyo

2007

House by the sea, Yahama, Tokyo

2006

Café Shieto, H Innovative Historical Renovation, Sawara, Chiba

2005

SLITS House, Tokyo.

2005

In-home care support center, Kichijoji-honcho, Tokyo