Artist's Statement

In my work I use the metaphorical realm to convey the spiritual connection between Eastern and Western cultures. Drawing from my imagination and lived experience, I mix media, techniques and art philosophies to explore the layers and textures of our daily lives.

As a Korean woman living in various Western contexts, I have experienced what it means to be a foreigner. Through my art I want to convey the diverse experiences and impressions I have gathered over nearly 50 years; in particular, I want to share what I have learned from overcoming hardship, experiencing joy, and moving with deep gratitude.

To explore these themes, I use diverse and mixed media found in Western art and combine them with the calligraphic brush strokes, blank space, and meditative motifs centered in Eastern art. Through my paintings I seek to transform these elements, blending the abstract with realism, all while relying on my spiritual imagination.

As I apply layer after layer of dark colors, deep textures slowly come forward to visualize the cyclical hardships, challenges, and pains that show up in our daily lives. From there I begin to let light come in – transforming and contextualizing the visually thick darkness into a sense of lightness. As bright colors emerge, they create balance, harmony, healing and hope. In this co-creation they do not replace the textures and emblems of hardship, but rather, they bring healing and hope into them. I seek to represent both darkness and light in their fullness, as well as the tension between them, just as we might experience both in our daily lives.

In the midst of our experiences, we are surrounded by the awe-inspiring providence of nature. It is in nature we come to understand the beauty of everlasting, never-withering, flowers. The flowers in my paintings therefore represent the hope we all have access to, regardless of what we may face in life. Conveying this gift of hope and deep knowing to the world is the reason for my art.

Biography

I was born and raised in South Korea as the daughter of an Eastern artist dedicated to Western painting. After graduating with a Master of Fine Arts from the Western Painting Department of Sungshin University, my passions led me to continue my studies abroad in Paris and Stockholm. I met my husband and gave birth to my two children in Stockholm, and after 21 years, we moved to Los Angeles and New York. In New York after years of exhibitions, I earned my second Master of Fine Arts with a focus on Western Painting. I continue to live and paint in New York today.

I believe that life as an artist should always be about learning new things and continuously developing. Our lives are filled with complexities and challenges, but they are beautiful and profound, just as the nature that surrounds us.

Awards

2016 – May 16 National Award, Seoul, South Korea
2015 – Grand Prix, awarded by The Dong-A IlBo, Seoul, South Korea
2013 – Multi Media Artist of the Year, awarded by JoongAng Ilbo, Seoul, South Korea
2005 – Grand Prix Winner of the “Seoul Living Art Expo”, Seoul, South Korea
1997 – Fine Arts Artist of the Year, Kungsängen, Sweden
1996 – Proud Ewha Alumni in Fine Arts Division Commemoration of 111th Anniversary of Ewha Girls High School, South Korea

Education

2005 – Long Island University, M.F.A. New York, USA
1986 – Stockholm University, Art History, B.F.A. Stockholm, Sweden
1983 – Stockholm University, Swedish, B.F.A. Stockholm, Sweden
1981 – Grand Chaumier Academy, Paris, France
1979 – Permby’s Fine Art College, Stockholm, Sweden
1978 – Sungshin University, M.F.A. Seoul, South Korea
1977 – Sungshin University, B.F.A. Seoul, South Korea

50 Selected Solo Exhibitions

2026 – Gallery Bellman, Stockholm, Sweden
2025 – The Gallery, An San, South Korea
2025 – Gallery Insaart, Seoul, South Korea
2025 – Saemunan Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2017 – Singapore International Art Fair, Singapore
2017 – Beechae Gallery, Yang Pyeong, South Korea
2017 – Busan International Art Fair, Busan, South Korea
2017 – Gana Art Space, Seoul, South Korea
2016 – Gallery D’Arte, New York, USA
2015 – Riverview 8th Avenue Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2014 – Gallery Movitz, Stockholm, Sweden
2013 – Han Byeok Won Museum, Seoul, South Korea
2013 – Gabarron Museum, New York, USA
2012 – Vision Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
2012 – Art Revolution Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
2011 – Pleiades Gallery, New York, USA
2011 – Art Revolution Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
2010 – Han Byeok Won Museum, Seoul, South Korea
2009 – Arto Art Fair Busan, Busan, South Korea
2008 – Pleiades Gallery, New York, USA
2006 – Pleiades Gallery, New York, USA
2005 – Artside Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2005 – Living Art International Art Festival, Seoul, South Korea
2004 – PhilosophyBox, New York, USA
2004 – Pleiades Gallery, New York, USA
2002 – Pleiades Gallery, New York, USA

2002 – Back Sang Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2002 – Chung Ang Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
2001 – F.G.S. Gallery, Fort Lee, USA
2000 – EAMEW Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
1999 – Korea Gallery, New York, USA
1998 – Tustin Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
1997 – Back Sang Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
1996 – Gallery Micro, Stockholm, Sweden
1994 – Art Show Gallery, Fort Lee, USA
1994 – Sam Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
1993 – Konnesseur Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
1992 – Lotte Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
1990 – Art Center, Kungsängen, Sweden
1989 – Origo Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
1988 – Victoria Gallery, Gothenburg, Sweden
1987 – Norrland Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
1987 – Skriptors Hörna, Stockholm, Sweden
1986 – Origo Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
1986 – Victoria Gallery, Gothenburg, Sweden
1986 – Blå Gallery, Umeå, Sweden
1984 – Boliden Gallery, Boliden, Sweden
1983 – Victoria Gallery, Gothenburg, Sweden
1980 – St. Göran och Draken Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
1979 – Esterica Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
1978 – Skriptors Hörna, Stockholm, Sweden