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 vita 

 
  • 1964, born in Ulm, Germany                                 
  • 1981-84, apprenticeship as stone-mason and stone-sculptor in Ulm, Germany
  • 1991-97, study of fine arts and sculpture (MA), Muthesius School of Fine Arts in Kiel, Germany, under Prof. Jan Koblasa
  • 2012, doctor of liberal arts (DLA), University of Pécs, Hungary, under Prof. Colin Foster     
  • 1995, establishment as freelance artist in his own studio in Germany
  • 2000-18, executive director of his art company 'ars magnifica GmbH', in collaboration with his wife
  • from 2025 studio management by his wife
​​
  • nearly 40 single and 120 group exhibitions in Germany and abroad
  • participation in more than 60 international sculpture symposia worldwide
  • 1998: start of the`KleyCity´ global art concept, installation of tower shaped sculptures in 26 countries so far
  • more than 100 large scale sculptures at public places worldwide (commissions, sculpture symposia)
Portrait_Jo_Kley-2018-1.jpg
international work and sculpture symposia
​​
2025
  • 3 months working stay in Iceland, sculpture project dedicated to the mountain Snaefellsjökull and the author Jules Verne (Journey to the Centre of the Earth), commissioned by the municipality of Snæfellsbær
  • NordArt, international exhibition (regular annual participation since 1998, organiser of the sculpture symposium 2013-2017)
  • 3. stone workshop Wunsiedel (teaching assignment), Germany
 
2024
  • 5. European Sculpture Triennial in Neustadt i.H., Germany (curator and organiser) 
  • stone workshop Wunsiedel (teaching assignment), Germany
  • International Crafts Fair Munich, Germany, special show Exempla 2024 'Natural Stone'
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2023
  • GLAZIALE Brandenburg, Schwedt/Oder, Germany  
  • art KARLSRUHE, Germany 
  • stone workshop Wunsiedel (teaching assignment), Germany
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2022
  • 2 months working stay in Iceland, commissioned by the municipality of Snæfellsbær, sculpture 'Frelsisvitti' for the village of Hellisandur
 
2021
  • Tuwaiq International Sculpture Symposium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 
  • 4. European Sculpture Triennial in Neustadt i.H., Germany (curator and organiser) 
 
2020
  • 3rd International Desert Sculpture Symposium MINQIN, China 
  • art KARLSRUHE, Germany 
 
2019
  • Red Sea International Sculpture Symposium 2019, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Os Sculpture Symposium, Bergen, Norway
  • stone sculpture symposium, Remstal Garden Show, Baden-Würtemberg, Germany
  • art KARLSRUHE, Germany 
 
2018
  • 5. Simposio de Escultura, Santiago de Chile 
  • 1. Kyiv International Sculpture Symposium, Kiev, Ukraine
  • 3. European Sculpture Triennial in Neustadt i.H., Germany (curator and organiser)   
  • International Sculpture Symposium Minamikyushu, Japan
  • art KARLSRUHE, Germany
​
2017
  • Puerto Vallarta 1st International Sculptors Forum, Mexico
  • The Silk Road International Art Exhibition, Xi'an, PR China
  • 3. Schorndorf Sculpture Symposium, Germany
  • NordArt, international art exhibition and sculpture symposium, Büdelsdorf, Germany, organiser of the sculpture symposium 2013-2017
  • art KARLSRUHE, Germany
 
2016
  • International Sculpture Symposium in Bento Goncalves, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
  • Changsha International Sculpture Art Festival, PR China
  • NordArt Public Choice Award 2016
  • 5. China Wuhu Liu Kaiqu Award International Sculpture Exhibition, PR China, Bronze Award
​
2015   
  • 1. International Bisanthe Stone Symposium, Tekirdag, Turkey
  • 2. European Sculpture Triennial in Neustadt i.H., Germany (curator and organiser)       
​
2014   
  • Sculpture Saint John, Canada (site manager and teacher)
  • International Urban Sculpture Festival 2014 (JIMO),
      Qingdao, PR China
 
2013   
  • West Rutland Art Park, international sculpture symposium in Vermont, USA
  • 'Stations of the Cross - Way of Martyrs Lübeck', Germany (curator and organiser) 
  • Os International Sculpture Symposium, Bergen, Norway
  • teaching assignment at Tokyo Gakugei University, Japan
 
2012   
  • 1. International Pergamon Stone Sculpture Festival, Turkey
  • Sculpture Saint John, Canada
  • 1. European Sculpture Triennial in Neustadt i.H., Germany (curator and organiser)         
 
2011  
  • sculpture workshop in Agia Varvara, Cyprus
  • Tsinghua University Centennial International Sculpture
      Exhibition, Beijing, PR China
 
2010  
  • Bronze Sculpture Exhibition in Tongling, PR China
  • Spinetoli, sculpture symposium, Italy
  • Urban Sculpture Symposium, Tangshan, PR China
  • Elbasan, sculpture symposium, Albania
  • Abu Dhabi International Sculpture Symposium (ADISS), United Arab Emirates
 
2009   
  • Sweida, sulpture symposium, Syria
  • Tudela del Duero, sculpture symposium, Spain
  • Os International Sculpture Symposium, Bergen, Norway
 
2008  
  • Korça, sculpture symposium, Albania
  • Cerisy-la-Foret, sculpture symposium, France
  • Bingen on the Rhine, sculpture symposium, Germany 
  • Biennale de Sculpture, Ouistreham-Riva-Bella, France
      (awarded)
 
2007  
  • Icheon International Sculpture Symposium, South Korea
  • Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium, Maine, USA
  • Os International Sculpture Symposium, Bergen, Norway
  • Cerisy-la-Foret, sculpture symposium, France
  • Dubai International Art Symposium, United Arab Emirates (awarded)
 
2006  
  • Puerto del Rosario, sculpture symposium, Fuerteventura, Spain
  • Yesemek Bienal, Turkey 
  • Comblain au Pont, sculpture symposium, Belgium
 
2005  
  • Atatürk University, sculpture symposium, Erzurum, Turkey
  • Dubai International Art Symposium, United Arab Emirates (awarded)
 
2004  
  • Hacettepe University, sculpture symposium, Ankara, Turkey
  • Caldas da Rainha, sulpture symposium, Portugal
 
2003  
  • Büyükcekmece, sculpture symposium, Istanbul, Turkey
  • artist in residence for 3 months, City of Uto, Kyushu, Japan
 
2002  
  • Brusque, sculpture symposium, Santa Catarina, Brazil
  • Le Sidobre, sculpture symposium, Castres, France 
  • `Way of Friendship´, sculpture path in Bilka, Czech Republic
 
2000  
  • Aswan International Sculpture Symposium, Egypt
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1999
  • travel grant for Greece, visit of antique places, Dr. Günther-Schirm-Foundation Lübeck, Germany
​
1998  
  • Cavaion Veronese, sculpture symposium, Italy (awarded)
 
1997
  • LEONARDO scholarship of the European Union,
    4 months working-stay at Carrara, Italy

2010 - present

2010 - present

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