Choi Young Wook (b.1964) is a Western style painter, known for his painting series, “Karma”. Choi has devoted fifteen years to capturing the beauty of a traditional Korean vessel: a moon jar.

“My paintings are images of memories and a medium of communication.”

-Choi Young Wook

Choi completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting at Hongik University in 1991, followed by the attainment of his Master of Fine Arts degree in 2000. He initiated his artistic career with solo exhibitions as early as 1992, marking the inception of a trajectory characterized by continual growth and development. Notably, his pieces have been acquired by esteemed institutions such as Bill Gates Foundation, Gianni Versace, Korean Air, the Philadelphia Museum, the National Modern Art Museum of Korea, Luxembourg Palace, SK Group, Lotte Group, and more.

Throughout the past decade, Choi has dedicated himself to refining his expertise in the creation of moon jars, establishing them as his signature way of expression. During his quest to find his personal style and way of expression, he encountered a Joseon-era moon jar in a museum during his trip to Europe and the US. It was then this finding led him to research, collect, and continuously paint to perfect his skills.

Today, Choi seamlessly intertwines East Asian tradition with the expressive ethos of Western modern painting, utilizing his technique and style as a conduit for this fusion. Through his artistry, the historic Joseon moon jar breathes again.

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Hyong Nam Ahn, a Korean artist born in 1955, is known for his sculptures that combine lights, sounds, and movements. Inspired by Kinetic Art from the 1960’s, Ahn earned his MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1980. He has created public sculptures for esteemed institutions and corporations, including McDonald Corporation in Kirkland, WA, The Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Art & Culture in Baltimore, MD, McCormick Place Donnelly Hall World Convention Center in Chicago, IL, and HMHC Hackensack Meridian Health Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ.

Ahn is fascinated by the ever-changing nature of the environment and strives to visually express this dynamic. He uses mixed media and controlling devices to vividly convey his inner thoughts. Through his art, he also explores the impact of technology on human relationships and the natural world. Despite the constant changes in the world, Ahn believes that the essence of human relationships and the universe remain unchanged.

In his recent works, Ahn draws inspiration from natural occurrences such as moonlight and migrating birds. He often incorporates sound and light to address formal aesthetic challenges, exploring how they can serve as both the subject matter and the foundation of contemporary art.

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Experience the captivating conversation between artist GwangMo Ku and the canvas. Witness the mesmerizing dance of Kyeongmi Heo within a transforming artwork. While our camera couldn’t capture the energy, prepare to be amazed by this extraordinary spectacle.

Formally trained in photography at the prestigious Kaywon School of Art and Design in Korea, Kwang Mo is a highly accomplished artist. He received the 13th Young Photographer’s Prize during the renowned Daegu Photo Biennale and was selected for the esteemed SeMA Support Program by the Seoul Art Museum in 2010. Additionally, Mo was nominated for the prestigious Prix Pictet award in France in the same year.

Mo’s talent shines through his sepia-tinted photographs showcased in “New Photography in Korea II”. His images skillfully blur the line between fantasy and reality, inviting viewers into a world where childhood memories and dreams intertwine. Through his manipulation of imagery, Mo creates timeless, limitless universes that his captivating characters embrace with ease. Prepare to be transported into otherworldly spaces where imagination knows no bounds.

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Petrus Bergstrand Nordenskiöld is a Swedish painter, known for expressing forms of “energy, frequency, and vibration”, as explained by the artist.

“When I compose a piece, I do it mainly to fascinate myself and I always strive to transcend the art form. My paintings are my artistic statement during my time. They are a visual narrative state, without beginning or end.”

His desire to connect to the subject surfaces as he captures a specific movement, vision, and sensation that produces a “vague sound,” as he describes it. He claims that the painting has been completed once he hears the sound and feels the vibrancy. Then he gives the painting a title that allows viewers to their interpretations.

petrusbergstrand.com

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Alexander Yulish was born in New York and studied fine art at Connecticut College. He currently resides between New York and Los Angeles. Yulish has had solo exhibitions at ACE
Gallery in Los Angeles and Trinity London. His work is included in the collection of Museo Jumex in Mexico City.

Yulish works within an unfolding narrative of improvisation and abstraction in paintings that convey the inner psychology of both human and external forms. Working predominantly in large-scale, Yulish utilizes a direct, impasto brush, building irregular shapes layer by layer into gestural, complex color arrangements in order to reveal abstract figurative forms. The movement of these gestures throughout each painting is marked simultaneously by harmony, undulation, and discord, all playing out across the canvas with a distinct lyrical impulse unifying the composition of his work. The scale of each work allows him to communicate an inner dialogue with tactful urgency, expressing the depths and complexities of the human psyche.

Painting within an immediate and expressive stye, Yulish’s studio practice is born of varying applications of acrylic on canvas as part of an elaborative process. Swirls of lines and broader
shapes are established, conjoined, integrated, and sometimes lost within the ceaseless creation of new forms and expressions. You can glimmer traces of Parisian bohemians like Modigliani
and Delaunay and grit of contemporary society. This tension between success, failure, and the precariousness of sustaining gestural rhythm are active elements that define his creative
process as well as the nature of his depicted subjects.

The work delves into the immediacy of life’s journey, highlighting its fragility and unbreakable nature. The artist is drawn to the paradoxes and unpredictability of existence, seeking to convey
the immediacy, vulnerability, and fragility of life to the audience. The show, which has been in the making for several years, serves as a reflection of the artist’s vision of the world, portraying
the internal struggle and conflict that permeates society. It acts as a road map, inviting viewers to contemplate and reinterpret the complexities of life.

Central to the body of work is the theme of the tenuous connection between humanity and intimacy, emphasizing the importance of preserving this connection amidst a world torn apart by conflict.

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Maria Pavlovska is a contemporary artist, active in the first half of the 21st century with two and a half decades of continuous presence in the European contemporary art scene and an active presence internationally in the USA and Asia. From Skopje to Ljubljana, Belgrade, Vienna, Berlin, Paris, New York, Manila, Miami, Venice, and Florence her art cover’s themes of polarization and globalism.

Pavlovska’s art, using polar black and white colors, is distinctive, with a specific expressive style that is unique, both in the Balkan region and on an international scale. Her vivid images – made up of striking, non-existent moves – cover polar opposites: light and dark, full and empty, black and white. Maria’s work carries the same intense, sincere, dedicated focus that is so evident in her personality. She has developed the ability to communicate deeply through a purely linear, gestural movement that composes her images. The emphatic energy of her artwork seems spontaneous, but is actually the result of thoughtful study, the creation of actions and responses that occur within the work over a period of time. A canvas or series of drawings can take months to be fully realized and carry that concentration of thought and action.

Her artistic journey started at an early age. Born in Skopje, Macedonia (Yugoslavia), after her studies she took up residencies and had solo shows in Paris, Berlin, Slovenia, Vienna, Belgrade, Zagreb, Sarajevo, Nuremberg (Germany) and New York. After her first solo in New York in 2007, she has lived between New York and Skopje and continued to be active in the New York art scene and internationally. Her work has been featured around the globe in over 30 solo exhibitions and more than 100 group international exhibitions. Her artwork has been featured in many magazines, newspaper articles, and museum and gallery catalogs worldwide. Holder of PhD in Cultural studies, Maria’s work as internationally recognized exhibited at Venice Architecture Biennale 2023 at the OSTEN Pavilion, was invited by its Committee to participate at the XIII & XIV Florence Biennale 2021 and 2023, participated in 58th and 59th Venice Biennale 2019 and 2022 invited by the European Cultural Centre, participate at the OSTEN Biennale of Drawing 2019 and 2022 wining and Award for Original Artwork – Concept, in 2020 was announced as ARTIST TO WATCH by ESKFF – Eileen Kaminsky Family Foundation, USA: In conversation Eileen Kaminsky and Artist Maria Pavlovska, Art Basel Miami in 2014 represented by MANA Contemporary Museum – Art Centre, was awarded Citibank Artist of the Year – an Annual Solo Show at the 60th St/5th Avenue branch in NYC in 2011, also received Carole A. Feuerman Sculpture Foundation USA, NY award for painting at the “Mixing Media” international show hosted by Carole A. Feuerman Sculpture Foundation in 2015, AAmA Award for New Frontier Contribution 2021, China (18 AAmA – Asian, American and Mediterranean Art International Exhibition, participating 82 artists from 55 countries), First Award for Original Artwork – Concept at OSTEN Biennial of Drawing 2022, International Prize DONATTELO, International Prize LEONARDO DA VINCI (Universal Artist), , International Prize PEGASUS FOR THE ARTS, International Prize MICELANGELO, receive CAREER ART Award from Effetto Arte Fondazione – Italy in 2023 and was also selected to platform: 50 ARTISTS TO INVEST. Furthermore in 2024 Pavlovska won International Prize LEONARDO DA VINCI / GOLD – Special Edition from Effetto Arte Fondazione – Italy for the international activity and presence on the international market.

In 2024 Pavlovska joint AP Space Gallery New York exclusive representation with solo show opening March – February same year.

She has been awarded international 18 Arts grants throughout her career.

Her studio residence has been at prestigious MANA Contemporary, a leading Contemporary Art Center in the New York City area since 2012.

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Christopher Makos was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, grew up in California, and moved to New York after high school. He studied architecture in Paris and briefly worked as an apprentice to Man Ray. Andy Warhol, Makos’ good friend and frequent portrait subject, called Makos “the most modern photographer in America.” His photographs have been exhibited in galleries and museums such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Tate Modern in London, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, the IVAM in Valencia (Spain) and the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid. His pictures have appeared in magazines and
newspapers, including Paris Match and Wall Street Journal. He is the author of several important books, like the volumes Warhol/Makos In Context (2007), Andy Warhol China 1982 (2007) and Christopher Makos Polaroids (2009).

Christopher Makos burst onto the photography scene with his 1977 book,  WHITE TRASH. This raw, beautiful book chronicled the downtown NYC punk scene, interspersed with portraits of Uptown Boldface names like the designer Halston and Andy Warhol, who called Makos the “most modern photographer in America”.  

Up to this point, Makos had traveled widely in Europe, spending time with Man Ray during the great artist’s last birthday celebrations in Fregene, Italy. The master surrealist and friend of Duchamp took a special interest in Makos and spent a day talking closely with the brash young American, sharing with him many practical insights into his working method as a photographer.  

Makos continued to document the NY scene in the 80’s using his Interview Magazine “IN” column to present up and coming stars Matt Dillon, Christian Slater, Robert Downey JR. Tom Ford. and began a long term love with Spain, where he continues to be a regular in Madrid. His portraits of Pedro Almodovar, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Bibi Andersen and Miguel Bose helped identify La Movida.  

Makos latest projects include a book of hid SX 70 Polaroids, with an essay by his friend Calvin Klein. LADY WARHOL, published this fall, presents 120 portraits of Andy in various wigs and make-up guises from the 1981 two-day Makos shoot they conceived as an homage to Man Ray’s Rose Selavy collaboration.

– makostudio.com

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Discover the captivating world of Young-Ha Park, a renowned Korean Asian Modern & Contemporary painter. Born in 1954 and a graduate of Hongik University, Park has a unique artistic style that truly brings the traditional mud-plastered walls of Korean rural houses to life.

Through the use of matieres techniques, Park adds a tactile quality to his paintings, blending fine sand, gold dust, and stone powders to create mesmerizing textures. With the help of metal scrubbers and rustic tools, he skillfully layers these materials, resulting in an awe-inspiring visual experience.

Nature serves as Park’s greatest muse, and he skillfully captures its essence in an abstract manner. Prepare to be transported to a world where art and nature intertwine, as you explore the captivating works of Young-Ha Park.

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Discover the mesmerizing world of Ana Pušica, a celebrated Serbian contemporary artist whose dynamic large-scale paintings transcend the boundaries between abstraction and figuration. Born in 1982 and based in Germany, Pušica studied painting at the esteemed Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, where she developed her bold and expressive visual language.

Pušica’s works are deeply intuitive and physical, often described as a “beautiful fluorescent thunderstorm.” Through vibrant layers of repeated motifs, energetic brushwork, and luminous color palettes, she explores the emotional power of movement, memory, and light. Her paintings—ranging from fiery magma-like reds to radiant pinks and oranges—radiate a sense of ‘intense lightness,’ offering viewers multiple layers of interpretation.

Merging ancient techniques with contemporary sensibilities, Pušica draws from the traditions of abstract expressionism and surrealism, delving into themes of identity, spirituality, and the natural world. With each canvas, she invites viewers to experience the intangible made visible, creating an immersive visual dialogue between form and feeling.

Since 2011, Ana Pušica has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions around the globe, with shows in Munich, Sydney, Madrid, Beijing, New York, and her hometown of Valjevo, Serbia. Prepare to be captivated by her powerful artistic voice as she continues to redefine the expressive possibilities of paint.

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Discover the captivating art of Francisco Valverde: a Cuban-Mexican artist hailing from Cuernavaca, Mexico, and now based in Mexico City. Valverde’s journey as an artist began with teaching traditional techniques, but it was his students’ quest for individual expression that fueled his own artistic exploration. Breaking away from conventional tools and materials, Valverde embraced colorful synthetic substances and bottle dispensers to create bold and powerful lines in his large-scale works. These lines defy tradition, embracing imperfection and creating a rhythmic structure that tells a story. Valverde describes his current work as a combination of obsession and freedom: the obsession of daily routine intertwined with the freedom of exploring artistic possibilities. His commitment to tradition is evident in the smooth finishes of his paintings. With a BA in Fine Arts from the University Art Center College of Design in California, Valverde’s talent has been recognized through numerous international exhibitions and inclusion in prestigious biennials such as the Rufino Tamayo Biennial at the Contemporary Museum Rufino Tamayo. Experience the art of Francisco Valverde and delve into a world where lines become storytellers.

Soojung Park’s pieces evoke a sense of exploration and transparency. Her mastery is known in the usage of traditional techniques with mediums such as ink and pigment, where she sands and rubs shades onto both front and back of plexiglass surface. Park captures the essence of stillness in the midst of movement within her subjects. Each of her pieces appears to be a section of a continuous movement, one after the other, but in no particular order. Whether the artworks are placed next to or across from one another, the harmony within her works create sense, virtually leading the eyes to see what isn’t there contrasted to what is. The juxtaposition of her tranquil scenes against Langley’s dynamic abstractions creates a captivating narrative that encourages viewers to explore the beauty in both movement and stillness.

Experience the captivating and groundbreaking work of Hunt Slonem, a celebrated painter based in the heart of Manhattan, New York. Born in 1951 in Kittery, Maine, Slonem’s artistic journey was shaped by his transient childhood due to his father’s military assignments.

Renowned for his vibrant expressionist paintings, Slonem draws inspiration from his own personal aviary, housing approximately 100 species of tropical birds. This fascination with exotic fauna stems from his early years in Hawaii and his time as a foreign exchange student in Nicaragua. In the 1980s, Slonem’s art evolved into intricate compositions, featuring enchanting patterns of birds, butterflies, and other inhabitants of his unique world.

Recognized for his exceptional talent, Hunt Slonem has been awarded multiple grants and fellowships throughout his career. His remarkable artwork has found a home in esteemed museums such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, as well as the Joan Miró Foundation in Barcelona, Spain and the Wurth Museum in Kunzelsau, Germany.

Experience the mesmerizing world of Hunt Slonem’s paintings as he brings his extraordinary artistic vision to life.

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Introducing Duran, a self-taught American painter born in 1985. While initially working in Real Estate Finance at the young age of 17, Duran eventually followed her true passion – the arts. After attending the Fashion Institute of Design + Merchandising in Los Angeles, she specialized in Graphic Design through her major in Visual Communications. Seeking further experience, Duran took on assistant roles in Fashion Styling and Interior Design for a period of 5 years. In 2015, she embarked on a journey to Paris to study French at Sorbonne, where she serendipitously stumbled upon open uninstructed ateliers in the city, attending regularly. It was during this time that Duran discovered her innate talent and love for the arts. With a determination to refine her skills, she self-taught herself various artistic styles and mediums by meticulously replicating works of the old masters. Upon her return to California, Duran started showcasing her artwork on social media platforms and selling her pieces through various channels, marking the beginning of her successful career. Today, Duran resides and operates from the vibrant city of New York.

Paul Solberg, born in St. Paul, MN, studied Anthropology in Southern Africa before moving to NYC in 1996. Solberg began his photographic career with his first published book, Bloom (2005), following Puppies Behind Bars (2006), Tyrants + Lederhosen (2011), Tattoos, Hornets & Fire (2012) (co-authored with Christopher Makos), and monograph, Ten Years In Pictures (2014). First known for his acclaimed flower portraits, in tandem with his equally ethereal human portraits of such icons at artist Ai WeiWei, or in his Service series (2020-present), which resides in such collections as the Elton John Photography Collection and shown at the American Embassy, Kiev, 2017. Solberg’s photographs have been published in Publisher’s Weekly, Le Figaro, CNN, L’Oeil de la Photographie, Interview Magazine, WWD, WSJ Int’l. His work has been shown internationally at the museum La Casa Encendida (Madrid), Subte Museum, Galerie Sho Contemporary Art (Tokyo), Galerie Hiltawsky (Berlin), Karl Hutter Fine Art (LA), MM Fine Art (NY) and Galerie Catherine Houard (Paris), and Villazan Gallery, Madrid. Solberg lives in New York City.

Experience the vibrant and abstract compositions of Matthew Langley, a contemporary American painter born in 1963. Langley’s bold use of color and geometric shapes, combined with overlapping layers, creates a captivating sense of depth and movement. With a strong interest in the forms of Modernism and a focus on color and mark-making, Langley’s unique style has earned him international recognition. Don’t miss the opportunity to see his work, exhibited in prestigious venues across the United States and Europe. Langley received his BFA from the Corcoran School of Art in 1985 and since then, his artwork has been featured in numerous group and solo exhibitions. His paintings have found homes in public and corporate collections including the International Museum of Collage, Assemblage, and Construction, the Doris Patz Collection at UMUC, and esteemed institutions such as DC Commission for the Arts and Humanities, PNC Bank, and MacAndrews & Forbes. Currently based in New York City, Langley creates his masterpieces from Mana Contemporary in Jersey City.

Discover the transcendent world of Stanley Casselman, a visionary American artist whose luminous, multi-layered paintings invite viewers into a contemplative space between the visible and the unseen. Born in 1963 and based in New York, Casselman explores the intangible—spirituality, perception, and the architecture of consciousness—through meticulously crafted works that are both baroque in emotion and precise in execution.

Casselman’s unique approach to painting began in the early 1980s, when he first experimented with silkscreen as a medium. Utilizing the screen as a matrix of perfectly aligned threads, he pioneered a method of working from the reverse side, capturing fleeting energetic moments on a surface that is typically hidden. This process results in mesmerizing compositions that feel simultaneously spontaneous and deliberate, revealing an “underside” of painting rarely seen.

His works unfold through layers of gestural marks and radiant color, forming what he describes as a visual pursuit of higher consciousness. Grounded in the belief that abstraction is the purest path to truth, Casselman continues to push the boundaries of pigment and perception in a search for the sublime.

Casselman earned his Bachelor of Arts from Pitzer College in Claremont, California. His artworks have been exhibited internationally, with notable presentations at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Gazelli Art House in London and Baku, and Secci Gallery in Milan. His pieces are held in the permanent collections of institutions such as the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation, the Flint Institute of Arts, and Borusan Contemporary in Istanbul. Prepare to be immersed in a world where material and immaterial beautifully collide in the work of Stanley Casselman.

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Experience the vibrant and captivating art of Lan Stanley. Born in Hanoi, Vietnam, she discovered her passion for painting at a young age. Winning a scholarship to the esteemed Fine Arts University of Hanoi, Lan’s talent was quickly recognized.

Since then, Lan has traveled the world, living in various cities such as Pittsburgh, New York, London, Hong Kong, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia. Each of these experiences has influenced her art, but her heart remains with her homeland.

Using acrylics, oils, and etchings, Lan brings to life the beauty and customs of Vietnam. Her artwork beautifully depicts scenes such as a young woman in the elegant ao dai, Buddhist worshipers at a village festival, and serene black and white landscapes.

Lan’s art has garnered international recognition, appearing on the covers and pages of well-known publications like United Airlines’ “Hemispheres” and Vietnam Airlines’ “Heritage”. Her work has been featured in prestigious art magazines and has caught the attention of collectors worldwide.

From auctions to private buyers, Lan’s artwork is highly sought after. Don’t miss the opportunity to own a piece that evokes emotions that transcend national borders. Experience the captivating art of Lan Stanley today.

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Experience the vibrant works of Ha TaeIm, the renowned South Korean artist taking the world by storm. With a captivating blend of bold colors and stunning compositions, TaeIm has solidified her position as a true visionary in modern art.

But her art is more than just visually striking. It carries a powerful message of female empowerment, celebrating the strength and beauty of women. Through her captivating pieces, TaeIm invites each viewer to be inspired, express themselves, and pursue their passions.

Prepare to be captivated by TaeIm’s unique vision and embark on a journey of self-discovery. Her thought-provoking art offers a window into her world, while encouraging viewers to explore their own inner selves in new and meaningful ways. Get ready to be inspired, unleash your creativity, and find your own path to empowerment through the artistry of Ha TaeIm.

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Experience the fresh and modern interpretation of traditional beauty with artist Geejo Lee. Born in Korea in 1959, Lee showcases his talent and creativity through his porcelain works. With a BFA and MFA from Seoul National University, he has honed his skills and mastered the art of creating captivating pieces. You can find his works in prominent collections, including the Jin Ro Culture Foundation and Yeoju Ceramic Art Museum. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the unique perspective of this renowned artist, who also shares his expertise as a teacher at Chungang University.

Vin’s latest creations capture the essence of his journey and the deeper meanings explored in his work. His creations are not just about immediate visual impact but about the layers of texture, color, and emotion that lie beneath. Each artwork is a journey into the unseen, an invitation to look closer and discover the intricate details and personal stories that form the foundation of his creative expression.

When he creates, he’s not just painting on a canvas; he’s peeling back layers of his experiences, struggles, and triumphs. The textures add a tactile dimension that invites closer inspection. The colors, chosen with intention, reflect the emotions and moods that have influenced his life.

By going beyond the surface, he aims to challenge viewers to delve into their own layers and reflect on the transformations and growth that occur within us all. It’s about seeing past the obvious and finding meaning in the complexity and depth that we all possess. His hope is that each viewer finds a personal connection within these layers, seeing a part of their own journey mirrored in his art.

His fame arose when he collaborated with Marc Jacobs and hosted a live painting stream on social media in 2020, which led to his works being picked up by notable fashion and beauty industry people such as Maison Margiela, Pat McGrath, and more.

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Meet Cindy Shaoul: a visionary American artist with a passion for impressionist street scenes and portraits. Born and raised in the vibrant city of New York, Shaoul’s unique expressions draw from her Hungarian-Persian heritage and her lineage of artists.

After studying at Emerson College in Boston, Shaoul embarked on a transformative journey, immersing herself in the cultures of Israel and Hungary. In Budapest, she honed her craft at the Budai Art Institute, before returning to New York City to continue her artistic education at the prestigious Art Students League.

It was there that Shaoul encountered renowned street artist LA II, known for his collaboration with Keith Haring. Under LA II’s influence, Shaoul’s style was infused with the electric energy of 1980s hip-hop and graffiti. Together, they unleashed a collection of captivating street art that made waves across Europe.

But Shaoul’s artistic prowess extends far beyond street scenes. With a diverse body of work ranging from portraits to vibrant abstract paintings, she constantly reinvents her style, exploring everything from pop culture to city street scenes. Shaoul is an actively engaged artist both within New York and abroad, always pushing the boundaries of her technique and embracing new and exciting elements in her creations.

Join Cindy Shaoul on her artistic journey as she continues to captivate audiences with her powerful voice and compelling story.

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Giuliano Tomaino, born in La Spezia in 1945 and currently residing in Sarzana, is a renowned artist known for his work in the Arte Povera movement. His career began in the late sixties and evolved throughout the 1970s and beyond.

During the 1970s, Tomaino utilized bedspreads as a medium to depict themes of nature, decay, and the passage of time. As the mid-1970s approached, his focus shifted to sign painting. Using intersecting lines in varying black and red scales, he created a signature style that would persist in his future works. Collages made from frayed fabric were also a prominent feature of his contemporaneous pieces.

New York City played a crucial role in Tomaino’s artistic development, as he had the opportunity to collaborate closely with Mario Soldati. This period of his life drew inspiration from the picturesque landscapes of Tellaro and Liguria. Influences from the environment, such as the mussel-farming poles in the gulf, jellyfish, clouds, and the disappearing sea in the sky, found their way into his paintings. In the 1986 piece “E’ il mare dileguato nel cielo,” the port takes center stage. Later, in 1990, Tomaino incorporated the cymbal as a recurring theme, inspired by the swallows that flock to his Sarzana studio, where he continues to work to this day.

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Introducing Sang Joon Park: A Master Ceramic Artist from South Korea, now residing in Upstate New York

Sang Joon Park, a talented ceramic artist, was born and raised in Dae Jeon, South Korea. Now calling Upstate New York home, Park has established himself as a prominent figure in the art world. With a BFA in Ceramics from Mok Won University and an MFA from Pratt Institute in New York, Park’s expertise is recognized internationally.

Throughout his career, Park’s work has been showcased in prestigious galleries and cultural centers. From the Korean and Japanese Cultural Centers in Washington DC and New York to renowned craft shows like the Smithonian Craft Show and Philadelphia Museum of Art and Craft Show, Park’s creations have captivated audiences all over. He has also been granted the honor of participating in the exclusive invitation-only Old Church Pottery Show in New Jersey.

Park’s artistic vision is beautifully conveyed through his pottery. Utilizing traditional Korean techniques such as Inhwamun stamping/inlay and Gwiyal slip, he masterfully creates intricate floral patterns and applies expressive color slips to his pieces. By fusing these timeless techniques with modern forms, Park is able to produce truly unique, artful, and practical pottery.

While wheel throwing is Park’s primary method, he has also ventured into installation pieces. Taking his work beyond surface decorations, Park explores sculptural forms by stacking and hanging his creations. This experimentation allows him to break away from the perfection of wheel-thrown pieces and compose abstract compositions. An exceptional example of this is his latest creation, “New York Winter.” By leaving hundreds of wheel-thrown bowls outside, the natural elements have transformed and weathered them, reflecting the ever-changing seasons and the environment that surrounds them.

Sang Joon Park’s work is a testament to his skill, creativity, and dedication to his craft. Experience his captivating ceramic pieces that seamlessly blend tradition and innovation.

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Happy Painting to Console our Spirit
Cheolmin Song | Curator, Zien Arts
May, 2018

A number of people are enthusiastic about the paintings of Artist Kim Myung-Sik (a.k.a. Andy Kim). He has garnered international attention and reputation through art-fairs and his personal exhibitions.

Why are these people enthusiastic about his works?

The works of artist Kim are likened to the happy feeling of having a cup of coffee with brunch, while sitting next to a window on a sunny spring day, listening to sweet piano melody. With this sensibility, people want to feel the happiness of sitting in his living room.

Like the first taste of bitter coffee turns around in our mouth and leaves a sweet taste, sweetness and bitterness coexist in Andy Kim’s works. His level of aesthetic achievement rises far beyond any single taste.

When pastel tone are the basic colors, we are not apt to feel in-depth taste. But by adding contrast, the work attains a different, higher, stage. By using a knife freely in spreading them, the colors trespasses the boundary of form, and concrete figures appear through the feast of color and maître.

However, the form of a house is not depicted concretely, but it only appears that audience can associate that it is a house. Just in that part, a positive involvement of the audience is made.

Through brilliant variations and feats of color by usage of an artist’s fingertip, forgotten pieces of memory became lovely memories again – leading to our experience of spiritual consolation. The works of artist Andy Kim satisfy an instinctive return to the audience, let them feel utopia, and get consolation of their spirits.

In addition, the deformation performed by an artist stimulates our imagination and even provides a sense of space. The modifiers hanging around the artist make him a magician or alchemist of color itself.

We cannot but admit this routine modifier is operating when we face his works. The house that associates with our memory, the imagination stimulated by deformation, and the feast of color that his knife made, remind us of the sun shining on a clear spring day – and also lets us feel an exotic morning scenery in a strange place with healthy energy.

I have mentioned that the taste is deeper and deeper when bitterness meets sweetness. This artist evokes the melodious world of imagination through the houses that draw our memory, by means of the magic of color by deformation, and the brush as a ‘magic stick’.

Through the artist’s own recipe, he gives good-looking and comfortable feeling. It is like a clean aftertaste, not excessively oily.

It is not an easy painting process, although it looks comfortable. In that, there is the artist’s only true caliber that has become completed through long-time accumulated inner-ability, via trial-and-error.

Thus, many people feel happiness and consolation of their spirit through Kim Myung-Sik’s works, regardless of their origin in East or West.

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Kim Hak-kyun, a distinguished artist with academic roots in Korea and the United States, has established himself as a prominent figure in the art world through a career spanning decades. Graduating with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Korea, he furthered his education in the United States, earning a master’s degree from Lehman College in 2003. Since then, he has been actively engaged in artistic endeavors across New York and Korea, garnering acclaim and recognition for his exceptional talent and contributions to the field.

Kim’s artistic journey commenced with notable achievements in the early 1990s, marked by victories in various art exhibitions. His inaugural solo exhibition in 2000 paved the way for over a hundred team competitions, showcasing his versatility and prowess in the realm of contemporary art. Noteworthy accolades include the prestigious Young Artist of the Year award at the Art Forum Newgate in 2003 and the Lehman College Award for Outstanding Artist in 2007.

Throughout his career, Kim Hak-kyun has participated in esteemed invitations and exhibitions, solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in the global art scene. His involvement in events such as the 2021 “Art and Gallery” invitation and the 2022 “UHM Gallery” invitation underscore his international reach and significance as an artist. Moreover, he has curated numerous exhibitions at his own gallery, “Sia New York SIA NY,” situated in Manhattan, showcasing both domestic and international artists and fostering cultural exchange.

In his upcoming exhibition at The Gallery Nine in Samcheong-dong, Kim Hak-kyun explores the theme of “kainos” and “newness,” delving into the intrinsic value of the familiar yet unrealized. Through his distinctive style, characterized by pop art aesthetics, Kim breathes life into iconic figures such as “Super Baby” and “Super Dog,” employing vibrant primary colors and whimsical imagery to evoke a sense of joy and whimsy.

Central to Kim’s artistic narrative are recurring motifs of rainbow-shaped arches and clouds, serving as symbolic elements representing hope and renewal. Through his series “Super,” Kim delves into the human experience, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, portraying themes of resilience and spiritual rejuvenation. Rooted in the concept of “Super,” his work explores humanity’s boundless aspirations, from the pursuit of health and power to the quest for transcendence and eternal life.

Drawing inspiration from philosophical discourse on the “superhuman,” Kim reimagines the concept through the lens of human revival and redemption. In his portrayal of “Super Baby” and “Super Dog” standing atop planets, he symbolizes the collective journey of mankind towards renewal and the divine promise of life, as exemplified by the biblical narrative of Noah’s Ark and the covenant symbolized by the rainbow.

In essence, Kim Hak-kyun’s art serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of hope and faith. Through his vibrant and thought-provoking compositions, he invites viewers to contemplate the complexities of existence and the transformative potential of embracing the “super” within each of us.

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Introducing Eduardo Pérez-Cabrero: a talented plastic artist born in the vibrant city of Barcelona in 1961. With a strong presence in both his hometown and the picturesque Costa Brava, Eduardo also finds inspiration in the vibrant energy of Miami, USA.

His artistic creations are a reflection of the mesmerizing influence of the Mediterranean Sea and its rich culture. Eduardo specializes in sculpture, crafting organic forms that captivate viewers with their rounded and sinuous shapes in impressive large formats. With a diverse range of materials including aluminum, brass, resins, cement, and ceramics, Eduardo’s work embodies a sincere, simple, and pure aesthetic.

Best described as an exaltation of the “Joie de Vivre,” Eduardo’s art embodies an optimistic, clear, and direct perspective on life. His creations have found their way into prestigious private collections not only in Spain but also in Andorra, France, Italy, Germany, the United States, Mexico, and Russia.

For those seeking a taste of his artwork in Barcelona, you can find his captivating pieces displayed at the iconic Hotel Majestic. In Madrid, the Hotel Four Seasons proudly showcases 12 of his works, with two of them prominently featured in the lobby.

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With a background in Fine Art from Kyungbook University in Daegu, Korea, and having also completed a graduate course in the same department, Yoon’s talent and passion for art are undeniable. Since 2003, his works have been showcased in prestigious international fairs such as the Shanghai Art Fair, Singapore Art Fair, Dubai Art Fair, Taipei Art Fair, and Miami Art Fair. Yoon has also been a part of notable group exhibitions, including ‘The truth about the six rooms’ at the Savina Museum of Art in 2006, ‘Illusion/Disillusion’ at the Seoul Museum of Art in 2006, ‘The flow – Daegu’s artists’ at the Posco Museum in 2006, and the KCAF Korean Contemporary Art exhibition at the Seoul Art Center in 2005.

Yoon’s talent has been recognized through awards, such as the Special Prize in the 12th Grand Exhibition of Korea in 1993 and the First Prize in the 18th Grand Exhibition of Daegu Art in 1998. His works have even been admired and collected by the National Museum of Modern Art, Daegu District Publ. Prepare to be captivated by Yoon’s exceptional artistic vision and skill.

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Artist Kim Jong-gu, born in 1963, studied sculpture at Seoul National University and its graduate school before earning a master’s degree from Chelsea College in the UK. During his graduate studies, he won the grand prize at the 9th Korea Art Exhibition. Since his first solo exhibition at Arko Art Center in 1993, he has held a total of 19 exhibitions at venues including the Kim Chong Yung Museum, Spencer Museum in the U.S., and the National Cheongju Museum, while also participating in numerous group exhibitions. His works are housed in institutions such as the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the Seoul Museum of Art, and the Spencer Museum. He is currently a professor at Ewha Womans University. In his early work, Kim sculpted massive metal blocks to depict human forms. Unlike traditional sculpture materials such as clay, wood, or stone, he chose metal for its unique quality, despite its difficulty in carving. A turning point in his practice occurred in 1997 when three of his works were stolen during an exhibition in the UK. While reworking his lost sculptures, he began collecting iron dust from his studio floor and experimenting with it as a medium. Kim’s transformation of solid metal into dust is not only a physical change but also a conceptual one, symbolizing the shift from industrial rigidity to a more fluid, inclusive perspective. By repurposing metal dust—a byproduct of sculpting—he transitions from the verticality of sculpture to the horizontality of painting. His work reflects a desire to replace hierarchical structures with more open, horizontal ones, encouraging viewers to experience mental and spiritual freedom, akin to the liberated nature of scattered iron dust.

Machine Dazzle (born Matthew Flower) is a boundary-breaking American costume designer, performance artist, and set designer known for his extravagant, maximalist creations. His work fuses fashion, theater, drag, and sculpture into visually spectacular pieces that challenge traditional design norms. Often using found objects, bold colors, and elaborate textures, Machine Dazzle’s costumes are celebrated for their narrative richness and subversive glamour.

Serena Bocchino is a contemporary American artist whose abstract paintings and sculptures are inspired by jazz, dance, and the Fluxus movement. Her layered works,  created with enamel paint, graphite, and mixed media, translate sound into vibrant visual form. “This process is deeply influenced by her synesthesia, a neurological condition that allows her to experience sound as color, shape, and line moving through space, transforming music into a vivid, visual language.”

Bocchino began her career in New York’s East Village art scene, where she exhibited in both alternative and commercial galleries and was selected by Susan Rothenberg for a notable group show alongside Eric Fischl, April Gornik, and Jenny Holzer. A PS1/MoMA studio residency followed, leading to her first international solo exhibition in Rome. Her work has been shown across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, including major exhibitions at the Museo Italo Americano (San Francisco), the Nicolaysen Art Museum (Wyoming), and the Taoxichuan Art Museum of China’s Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), which acquired several of her works for its permanent collection.

Bocchino is a recipient of the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant, Art Matters Award, Basil Alkazzi Award (USA), and multiple fellowships from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Her work is held in numerous collections, including the Bronx Museum of the Arts, the Morris Museum, the Zimmerli Art Museum, the National Museum in Gdańsk (Poland), and the St. Louis Art Museum. Her monographs Serena Bocchino: The Artist (2015) and Lyrical Roar (2023) document her dynamic career. In 2024, her artwork was digitally broadcast in Times Square, New York—bringing her bold, music-driven visuals to a global audience.

RHYTHM PULSE link: https://vimeo.com/1090976102?share=copy

Choongmok Yoo is a Korean artist whose work reflects a deep conversation between tradition and modernity. Born in 1977, he studied Environmental Art and Design at Namseoul University before continuing his education in the UK, where he earned a master’s degree in Visual Practice at the University of Sunderland. He later returned to Korea to complete doctoral research at Seoul National University of Science and Technology. After spending nearly ten years living and working in the U.S. and UK, Yoo came back home with a desire to reconnect with his roots and to explore what it means to carry history forward in a rapidly changing world. His work has since been exhibited internationally and acquired by public and private collections in Korea, Europe, and the U.S., earning honors such as the NICHE Award and the National Glass Center Grand Prize.

Yoo’s recent work focuses on the form of glass water droplets, arranged delicately across yellow-stained wood panels. These droplets, shaped with care and intention, seem to shift depending on the light or the viewer’s position, casting shadows that move and evolve throughout the day. Drawing from the traditional Korean color system of obangsaek and the decorative painting style of dancheong, Yoo offers his own interpretation: one that blends emotion, memory, and a quiet sense of time passing. Each droplet feels personal, almost like a fragment of his lived experience. Together, they form a landscape that’s both intimate and open, an invitation to pause, to reflect, and to notice what often goes unseen.

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David Gerstein, born in 1944 in Jerusalem, is an Israeli artist widely recognized for his colorful and energetic works that blur the line between painting and sculpture. He studied at top art institutions across the world, including the Bezalel Academy in Jerusalem, the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, the Art Students League in New York, and Saint Martin’s School of Art in London. Initially known for his figurative paintings, Gerstein began pushing the boundaries of traditional art in the late 1970s by introducing cut-out images and later developing his signature laser-cut metal wall sculptures. His work captures scenes from everyday life like cyclists, city streets, birds, and butterflies brought to life with bold colors and layered forms.

Gerstein’s pieces are displayed in public spaces and private collections around the world. He has created more than 40 public installations in Israel alone, and his 18.5-meter sculpture Momentum in Singapore stands as one of the tallest public artworks in the country. His art has reached a broad audience, attracting collectors like Lance Armstrong and even appearing in popular literature, including Stephen King’s Duma Key. Gerstein’s approach emphasizes joy, movement, and accessibility, offering a fresh, optimistic take on contemporary life through a blend of sculpture, painting, and design.

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Luisa López Celada is a Spanish-American painter whose expressive and emotionally charged oil paintings explore themes of identity, resilience, and social change. Born in Spain, she showed artistic promise from an early age, receiving the National Painting Prize at just 12 years old. She later earned her MFA from the Complutense University of Madrid and moved to New York on a Fulbright Scholarship to study Communications Design at Pratt Institute. Before returning to painting full-time, López Celada built a successful career in advertising, working as an art director for McCann Erickson and later founding i-Latina, a creative agency that helped U.S. brands connect with Hispanic audiences.

A major turning point in her life led her back to her first passion, painting. Since opening her studio in Manhattan’s Lower East Side in 2012, her work has been featured in exhibitions across the U.S., including Art Basel Miami, Gracie Mansion, and Victor Gallery in Washington, D.C. Her layered, textured canvases tackle global issues such as migration, environmental crisis, and women’s rights, often grounded in deeply personal narratives. Beyond her painting practice, López Celada is active in supporting other women artists, organizing community events and professional gatherings to promote collaboration and empowerment in the art world. Her work has been collected both privately and publicly, shown alongside names like Jeff Koons and Andy Warhol.

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Lee Lee Nam, born in 1969 in Damyang, South Korea, is a leading figure in media art, known for blending classical masterpieces with digital animation to create entirely new visual experiences. Originally trained as a sculptor, he earned his BFA from Chosun University in 1995 and later completed a Ph.D. in Fine Arts at Yonsei University, where he focused on the intersection of art and technology. Lee’s signature approach involves reimagining traditional works, both Eastern and Western, by infusing them with subtle, often poetic movement. His videos bring still images to life, prompting viewers to reconsider familiar visuals through the lens of time, memory, and transformation.

Over the course of his career, Lee has exhibited in more than 800 shows around the world, including at the Saatchi Gallery in London, the Venice Biennale, and Korea’s National Museum of Contemporary Art. His work often bridges past and present, as seen in standout pieces like Parkyeon Waterfall and Cartoon Folding Screen. In 2016, he became the first Korean artist to showcase a virtual reality artwork using Google’s Tilt Brush at the Busan Biennale. His art is held in major public and private collections, including the United Nations headquarters in New York and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, solidifying his reputation as a boundary-breaking artist who continues to reshape how we engage with cultural heritage.

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Hyung Koo Kang was born in 1955 in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea and is a contemporary artist best known for his hyper realistic portraits that go far beyond photographic precision. A graduate of Chung-Ang University in Seoul, Kang didn’t fully devote himself to painting until his late 30s, but once he did, his meticulous, emotionally resonant work quickly gained international attention. He often reimagines iconic figures like Marilyn Monroe, Albert Einstein, and Vincent van Gogh, not to replicate them, but to capture something deeper about their character and legacy. His unique technique, which involves using tools like cotton swabs, drills, and even nails, allows him to bring out textures and details that evoke intense intimacy and presence.

Kang’s portraits often explore themes of identity, time, and the fragility of human experience. He has created aged versions of himself and famous figures, imagining them across different phases of life. His work has been exhibited in major institutions around the world, including the Singapore Art Museum and Arario Gallery in New York. One of his standout paintings, Vincent van Gogh in Blue, sold for a record-breaking price at Christie’s Hong Kong in 2007, marking a significant moment in his career. Through his art, Kang challenges viewers to look beyond the surface and consider the emotional and psychological layers that shape who we are.

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Sukwon Park (born 1942, South Korea) is a pioneering sculptor whose work has played a central role in shaping the trajectory of Korean contemporary art. A founding member of the influential Korean Avant-Garde Group (AG) active from 1969 to 1975, Park emerged onto the international stage with appearances in major exhibitions including the 5th Paris Biennale (1966), the 10th São Paulo Biennale (1969), and the first-ever Sydney Biennale (1973). His early sculpture Scorched Earth (1968) marked a bold statement in response to the trauma of war and rapid modernization in postwar Korea.

Throughout the 1980s, Park developed his signature Accumulation series, using repetition, segmentation, and layering of natural materials such as stone, wood, and traditional Korean hanji paper. His process often focuses on the inherent texture and form of the materials, creating works that are as meditative as they are physical. Park’s approach departs from traditional sculptural conventions, allowing material transformation and raw form to guide the composition. His works are part of major public collections, including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) and Daegu Art Museum. With over two decades of solo exhibitions and hundreds of group shows worldwide, Park remains a vital voice in Korean abstraction.

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Park Seo-Bo (1931–2023) was a pioneering figure in Korean contemporary art and is widely recognized as a founding force behind the Dansaekhwa (monochrome painting) movement. Born in Yecheon during the Japanese occupation, Park came of age during a turbulent era that deeply shaped his worldview and artistic direction. He studied at Hongik University, later becoming a professor and dean there, and played a key role in introducing abstract art to postwar Korea during a time when traditional styles still dominated. His early experimentation with Western modernism gradually gave way to a more introspective and spiritually rooted practice grounded in Eastern philosophy.

His most acclaimed body of work, the Écriture series, began in the late 1960s and remained the focus of his career for decades. These works are known for their repetitive, meditative marks—often pencil lines carved into wet oil paint or layered hanji paper. Park’s process-oriented approach reflected his belief in art as a discipline of self-restraint and inner reflection rather than self-expression. His work was exhibited globally, with major shows at institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum, Tate Liverpool, and Korea’s National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. His paintings are housed in major collections including MoMA, the Art Institute of Chicago, and M+ in Hong Kong. Park was also a passionate educator and advocate for Korean contemporary art, founding the Seo-Bo Art and Cultural Foundation in 1994. He passed away in 2023, leaving behind a profound legacy that continues to resonate worldwide.

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Lee Yong Deok, born in Seoul in 1956, is a prominent South Korean sculptor known for his striking “inverted sculptures” that play with visual perception and spatial illusion. He studied sculpture at Seoul National University, where he earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees, before continuing his artistic training at the Berlin University of the Arts under the Meisterschüler program. Emerging in the mid-1980s, Lee was part of a new wave of Korean artists who pushed beyond the dominant Dansaekhwa movement, reintroducing figurative elements into contemporary art. His work often explores the tension between opposites, such as inner and outer, light and shadow, prompting viewers to question what is real and what is imagined.

Lee has exhibited internationally, with solo shows in major institutions like the Schulmuseum in Berlin and the National Museum of China. His 2018 exhibition “Indivisibility” at Arario Gallery in Cheonan delved into philosophical themes of unity and perception, drawing on ancient ideas from thinkers like Parmenides. In addition to his studio practice, Lee has made a lasting impact on Korean art education, serving as both professor and dean at Seoul National University’s College of Fine Arts. He has received several major honors, including the Kim Sechoong Sculpture Award and the Moonshin Art Award, reflecting the depth of his influence on the contemporary art world.