bio

Rio Chen’s work tends to exist in a gray area between imagination and reality, he sees things from both sides and believes that things are not completely black or white. From both materiality and methodology of making craft and design, his projects often challenge the stereotypes of common sense. His designed objects take the shape of urban planning and architectural forms, he often refers objects as tiny buildings, it is the scale that breaks the preconceived notions of how we experience a space or an object.

Throughout the years he has developed a theme called SpicyPop, which is an approach to criticizing popular culture in a way that is as easy and accessible as pop culture itself. Along with workshops and lectures facilitated through randr research institute and Satellite Project, he aims to bring the discussion of how design situates its influence in politics and the responsibility of socio-political effects that comes with it. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from Taiwan Tech and a Master’s degree in Designed Objects from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

exhibitions

2024
NYC x DESIGN x Souvenir @New York

2023
Public Access by Furnishing Utopia @New York
Terrain Biennial International Public Art @Taipei

2022
Fiction Beyond Nonfiction International Juried Exhibition by Litang Gallery @Online
Security and Surveillance by Satellite Project @Online
What is the Shape of Innovation? by United Nations Innovation Cell @New York

2021
Terrain Biennial International Public Art @Chicago
SAIC Graduate Exhibition 2021 @Chicago
Site Gallery Director’s Show 2021 @Chicago
Wanted Design by Whatnot Studio @New York

2020
Italian Design Day by the Italian Consulate @Chicago
Wanted Design by Whatnot Studio @New York
Popopopo Gallery @Taipei

2019
Taiwan Tech Design Show @Taipei