A R T I S T S T A T E M E N T

I am a Korean American contemporary artist whose mixed-media practice is rooted in themes of identity, memory, and spirituality. Born on Jeju Island, Korea, and now based in California, I explore the emotional terrain of the Korean diaspora through material and process. My works often incorporate Hanji, traditional Korean mulberry paper, alongside graphite, oil pastel, and thread in a meditative, mark-making process that mirrors my personal journey of transformation and healing.

My practice is deeply informed by my migration story—from a Confucian-influenced upbringing in South Korea to a spiritually grounded life in the U.S.—and my art functions as a visual reclamation of my identity. The interplay between fragility and strength in Hanji becomes a metaphor for resilience. Layer by layer, I deconstruct and reconstruct paper fibers, shaping textured abstract compositions that carry the imprint of lived experience, cultural memory, and spiritual renewal.

My use of light, color, and repetition draws inspiration from American Abstract Expressionists like Barnett Newman and Agnes Martin. Golden vertical lines in my work evoke divine light, while blues and greens reference the landscapes of Jeju and Maui—places of both childhood wonder and adult reflection. Through this language of form and color, I transform inner struggles into quiet revelations, offering viewers a contemplative space to encounter the spiritual dimension of art.

My solo exhibition, Light Shines Through, traced my artistic and spiritual exodus from darkness to light. My work has been celebrated for its tactile intimacy, emotional depth, and its unique ability to merge personal narrative with universal themes of redemption, nature, and faith.