2022 Robert Foster F!NK National Metal Prize

Johannes Kuhnen | Vessel 2022 | 2022
Johannes Kuhnen is one of Australia’s most
well-recognised gold and silversmiths.
Coming from a well-developed European
tradition, his contribution to Australian silver
and jewellery, and hence Australian design,
has been profound and has firmly established
Kuhnen’s wok on an international platform.
Johannes Kuhnen was the former head of
the gold and silversmithing workshop at the
Australian National University. Johannes has
exhibited widely throughout Australia and
overseas in both group and solo exhibitions.
His work is held in the collections of the
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, the
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, the
Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, the Art Gallery
of Western Australia, Perth, Museum für
Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Museum
Boymans-van-Beunigen, Rotterdam,
Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz,
Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin, the Victoria
and Albert Museum, London, the National
Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Die Neue
Sammlung, the design museum at Pinakothek
der Moderne, Munich.
Johannes’ practice has remained at the
forefront of innovation, in particular his
pioneering use of anodised aluminium. A
fascination with the colour options of the
aluminium as well as titanium continue to
provide inspiration for his work and has
also inspired many others to explore such
potential. Johannes’s current practice
continues to capture his mastery and sense
of understanding of what you can do with
hard materials such as titanium, which
currently takes a leading role in his objects
and wearable art.