Biography
Kei Ito is a US based photographer and installation artist who graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art (’16) with an MFA in Photography, following his BFA from Rochester Institute of Technology (‘14).
Kei’s work addresses issues of generational connection and deep loss as he explores the materiality of photography as a medium. His recent work deals with the tragedy and legacy passed on from his grandfather who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima yet died from cancer, and the threat of nuclear disaster which is still present today.
The idea of visualizing the invisible is something Kei has been continuously exploring in his practice as an artist. Kei’s recent works express a strong connection between the sun and his family history regarding the idea of invisibility in light and shadow. Kei’s artwork illuminates how he believes art should propose a question rather than an answer, especially in this age of chaos. Through his artworks, the audience will be on a journey of grief, remembrance, and hope, and through the ritualistic image-making, they may see how his family history grapples with the legacy of nuclear weapons and power. Thus, Kei’s art serves as intermediary between the heritage of his grandfather and today’s climate as a memento.
Kei’s works are in the permanent collections of institutions, including the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago. His pieces have shown in a variety of different spaces from museums, commercial galleries, outdoor galleries, community arts center, and colleges/university galleries as solo or group exhibitions in major cities in USA, Japan, China, and Hungary.
