Emma Kokai
Education
| 2010-2014 | OCAD University, Toronto, Canada A four year study of the Therapeutical Benefit of Muscle Memory. How to regain the creative ability and rediscover ourselves as an artist in the ceramic medium. |
| 2002 | The University of West – Hungary Master’s Program in Silicate Design, in Sopron, Hungary |
| 1998 | Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto, Canada Diploma with Honours, Material Art and Design, Ceramics |
| 1996 | Instituto Allende, San Miguel, Mexico Ceramic and Multimedia Sculpture, Special Emphasis in Raku |
| 1977 | Teacher’s College, Budapest, Hungary Teacher’s Diploma |
Solo Exhibitions
| 2017 | “Existence” | Kis Kapolna Galeria, Kecskemet, Hungary |
| 2016 | “Muscle Memory” | Cedar Ridge Gallery, Toronto |
| 2004 | “Tension II” | Vigado Gallery, Budapest, Hungary |
| 2003 | “Falling Within” | Partenon Gallery, Academy of Fine Arts, Budapest, Hungary |
| 2003 | “Tension I” | International Ceramic Studio, Kecskemet, Hungary |
| 2002 | “Falling Within” | Toronto International Film Festival, in The Living Room, Toronto, Canada Remembering September 11, at Toronto City Hall Cedar Ridge Gallery, Toronto |
| 2001 | “Snapshots in White” | Cedar Ridge Gallery, Toronto, Canada |
| 1999 | “Three Dimensional Sketches of an Inner Journey” | Bluffs Gallery, Toronto Canada |
Group Exhibitions
| 2017 | “Windows” Gardiner Museum Shop 111 Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario |
| 2017 | “Muscle Memory International Ceramic Residency” Closing Exhibition Kapolna Galeria, Kecskemet |
| 2016 | “Direction” Hungarian Consulate General, Toronto |
| 2004 | “Tempus Fugit” Sculptors Society of Canada, Toronto |
| 2001 | “The Art of Hungarian Canadians” Celebrating the Hungarian Millennium, Magyarok Haza, Budapest, Hungary |
| 2000 | “Identity – The Father, The Mother and the Son” An exhibition of the three Kokais, Wagner-Rosenbaum Gallery, Toronto, Canada “The Art of Hungarian Canadians” in the Living Arts Centre, Missisauga, Ontario |
| 1998 | Graduating Students Exhibition, Juried Canadian Sculpture Gallery, Sculptors Society of Canada |
| 1997 | “Behold Within” OCAD Gallery, Toronto, Canada |
Work Experience
| 2017 | Mimi is the Founder of the Muscle Memory International Ceramic Residency that was born in collaboration with the International Ceramic Studio (ICS) in Kecskemet, Hungary. In May 2017, the first Muscle Memory Symposium, a month-long artist-in-residency at the ICS, brought together seven artists from Canada and five from Hungary. These artists, who who practice a variety of disciplines in addition to ceramics, invested all their talent, passion, and commitment to exploring the “muscle memory” theme. One of the purposes of the residency was to demonstrate the power and the skill of artists who overcome disabilities, of whom there several in the group. All have demonstrated outstanding innovation and creativity at this remarkable arts facility. The symposium was supported financially at the provincial level through the Ontario Arts Council’s Artists With Disability Grant and grants for visual artists, as well the Canada Council For The Arts’ travel grants. The Government of Hungary has also recognized the importance of the residency, having assisted with funding by the Nemzeti Kulturalis Alap for our Hungarian colleagues. |
| 2016 | Invited as an artist in residence at the International Ceramics Studio (ICS) to create a new body of work that will be exhibited in 2017 at the ICS in Kecskemet, Hungary. |
| 1998 – | to the present. Emma is a full-time practicing artist. |
| 2003 – 2004 | Emma’s Life size figurative ceramic sculptures have attracted a great deal of attention in Hungary. Although it is very gratifying to have the opportunity to exhibit and market these ceramic sculpture installations, Emma wants to push her limits and follow her artistic vision. |
| 2002 – 2003 | Based on artistic achievement, Emma has been invited to Hungary, to the International Ceramic Studio, Kecskemet, Hungary, as a resident artist. During her residence, Emma has been pursuing her own artistic development, experimenting and acquiring new skills and techniques. |
| 1999 – 2001 | Her figurative sculptures the “Bottle Dreams” were represented by the Wagner-Rosenbaum Gallery, the Guild Shop (Ontario Craft Council) the Finders Gallery, Toronto, and the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario. |
| 1998 – 2001 | Emma was teaching ceramic sculpture as a volunteer art teacher at Sir Alexander Mackenzie Senior Public School, C.D. Farquaharson Junior Public School and at John Fisher Public School. |
| 1998 – 1999 | Worked as a volunteer assistant for Susan Low-Beer, ceramic sculptor. |
Reviews
2002
- CBC News – Story on “Falling Within” an exhibition, commemorating the victims of the September 11 events. September 23, 2002.
- Rogers TV – The sixth month anniversary of the September 11 events. The victims were honoured with the installation piece. “Falling Within” interview at the Toronto City Hall, March 10, 2002.
- 2002 March, Toronto Star “Art Expresses the pain of September 11” interview March 1, 2002.
- Scarborough Mirror “Falling Within” helps artist come to terms with horrors of September 11 Interview March 6, 2002
- 2002 March, Hungarian Life Newspaper, Toronto “Szeptember 11 A Kimerevitett iszonyat”
Interview March 9, 2002 - Story on “Falling Within” an exhibition, commemorating the victims of September 11. CTV News, September 23, 2002
2001
- Documentary film about the Kokais and their world of art, Hungarian National TV – February.
- Hungarian National TV – introducing Hungarian Canadian Artists, The Kokais – September.
1999
- “Three Dimensional Sketches of an Inner Journey”
- Scarborough Mirror – January 8, pg. 5
- Surface and Symbol Scarborough Arts Council Newspaper, vol 10, No. 10, pg. 6
- Beach Metro Community Newspaper, vol.27, No. 19. pg 5
- Vision TV – January 15, channel 60
1998
- “The Soul Keeper of the Mountains”
- Kaleidoscope, Hungarian/English Cultural Magazine – Vol 1, no. 1, pg. 24
Memberships
In 2004, Emma became a member of the Hungarian National Artists’ Society.
Since 2003, she has been a member of the Sculptors Society of Canada.
In 2015, became member of Craft Ontario.
2016, became member of the Hungarian Visual Artists of Canada