Keiwa Kobayashi, born in Tokyo in 1966, has been proving himself to be recognized as a jewelry artist in recent years. He calls his own creations �gArchitecture on the palm of a hand.�h Breaking a jewelry making tradition, Mr. Kobayashi set his eyes on different materials, such as titanium and stainless steel for durability, and combining with delicate wires and screws, creates unique 3-dimentional structures.

After graduating from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 1992 and finished his graduate study in metal works, Mr. Kobayashi worked on metal sculpture productions. At the beginning of the 21st century, however, he became fascinated with jewelry art. His inspiration comes from the different observations of sculptures and jewelry. Installment of sculpture is permanent, opposed to the flexible and free-moving capability and opportunity for jewelry to express its existence. Keiwa Kobayashi finds it fascinating that his jewelry can change in appearance through different attitude, clothing and hair-style of a person wearing it.

Materials

Titanium: Light as aluminum, but tough as steel. Does not erode or decay under any environment on this planet. Known to have the minimum allergic reaction to human bodies. Creates beautiful color-generating appearances by surface treatment. Used for rings, bracelets, earring parts, and choker chords.

Stainless steel: Superbly corrosion resistant. Tough, yet flexible. Possesses more solidness than other precious metals. Used for small parts of jewelry as screws, wires, clips and pins. However, stainless steel contains chrome, which may cause some allergic reaction to human bodies. Minimum amount of stainless steel is used in skin-touching areas for this reason.

1990	Award: Bronze award: �gThe Third Koizumi ILDC�h
1994	Exhibition: �gJapanese Metal Works�h [Shapes of molds]
1996	Exhibition: �gJapanese Metal Works�h [Shapes of molds]
1999	Exhibition: �gJapanese Metal Works�h [Shapes of mold]
2000	Exhibition: �gCasting: Its spell�h Exhibition: �gMetal Works; Fall Gathering�h
2003	Exhibition: �gJapan Craft Exhibition 2003�hat Matsuya-Ginza
2004	Exhibition: �gJewelry: Threesome Exhibition�h Exhibition: �gJewelry: Nine-artist Exhibition�h Award: Merit award: �gJapan Jewelry Art�h
2005	Prize For a Fine Work / The 45th Japan Craft Exhibition