Cocks·comb, 2018, Oil on canvas, 38x38cm

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Ahn Chang Hong (1953~)

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Since his youth, Ahn Chang-hong has independently forged his own path as an artist, rising to become a preeminent figure in Korean Figurative Art through a self-taught practice. Since his debut in the early 1970s, he has presented a series of exhibitions featuring masterpieces that engage with social issues through a sharp, critical lens.

Beginning with his solo exhibition at Gonggan Gallery (Busan, 1981), he has held over 50 solo exhibitions both domestically and internationally, including the 10th Lee In-sung Art Prize Laureate Exhibition (2020), the 25th Lee Jung-seop Art Prize Commemorative Exhibition (2013), and the Ahn Chang-hong Special Invitation Exhibition at the Guayasamin Museum (Ecuador, 2021).

Throughout his career, Ahn has explored the lifelong themes of "humanity and society," consistently transcending the boundaries of traditional genres and media. Beneath the forms he portrays lies the artist’s profound gaze toward the realities of contemporary society. His work stands as a definitive representation of "sensual realism" within the modern Korean art scene.

제주도암흑, 1991, Oil on Canvas, 38x45cm

 Byun Si Ji(1926~2013)

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Byun Shi-ji (1926–2013), celebrated as the "Artist of the Wind," is a legendary figure in Korean modern art. After rising to early prominence in Japan by winning the prestigious Kofukai Grand Prize (1947), he returned to his native Jeju Island in 1975 to establish his iconic "Jeju Style."

His work is defined by a soulful ochre palette and dynamic brushstrokes that bridge Western oil painting with Eastern ink traditions. Through his depictions of Jeju’s turbulent winds and solitary figures, Byun sublimated the regional landscape into a universal meditation on human solitude and the essence of life.

In 2007, he achieved global recognition as the first living Asian artist to have works permanently displayed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Today, Byun remains a titan of Korean art whose legacy continues to offer a profound reflection on the relationship between nature and humanity.

머체왓 숲, 2026,  Oil on canvas, 100x100cm 

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Chung Sang Gon (1963~)

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Born in Seoul in 1963, Jung Sang-gon earned both his B.F.A. and M.F.A. in Painting from Seoul National University. He has established a prolific career, participating in over 40 solo exhibitions and more than 60 group exhibitions both in Korea and internationally.

Jung’s artistic practice—spanning painting, printmaking, and digital media—primarily focuses on illuminating the relationship between visible phenomena and their underlying attributes, meanings, and essential realities. His recent series, such as Landscape of Deficiency and Minuscape, utilize natural landscapes as a medium to contemplate and express the profound meaning of life.

His work communicates through a distinctive painterly sensibility that plays with the viewer's perception: while a close-up view reveals only the raw materiality of the mixed media on the surface, a mysterious and evocative image emerges like magic when viewed from a distance.

Jung has received more than ten prestigious awards domestically and abroad, including the Grand Prize at the 2018 Novosibirsk International Triennial of Contemporary Graphic Art and the Dong-A Art Prize (1992).​​

Layers, 2016, chromogenic print, 80 x 120 cm.

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Han Sung  Pil (1972~)

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Born in Seoul in 1972, Han Sung-pil earned his B.F.A. in Photography from Chung-Ang University and an M.A. from Goldsmiths, University of London. As a pivotal figure in contemporary photography, he has established a prominent international presence, exploring the delicate boundaries between reality and representation, and truth and fiction.

Han is widely acclaimed for his Façade series, which captures architectural sites draped in trompe l'oeil screens. These large-scale photographs create a surreal interplay between the actual building and its reproduced image, prompting viewers to question the essence of what is perceived as "real." Through this conceptual approach, he reveals the layered histories and hidden dimensions behind urban structures.

In recent years, Han has expanded his artistic inquiry into environmental themes through his Polar Project. By documenting the sublime yet fragile landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctica, he addresses the urgent reality of climate change and the complex relationship between humanity and nature. His lens captures a poetic and philosophical meditation on the Earth's past and its precarious future.

Han’s works are held in prestigious global collections, including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), Korea, the Seoul Museum of Art, and the Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts in Japan.

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Cosmic force D19-49, 2019, Painting on Canvas, 117x91cm 

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Kim Young Won (1947~)

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Kim Young-won (b. Changwon) is a preeminent figure in Korean contemporary sculpture, holding both B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees from Hongik University. Renowned for his genius in realism since his youth, he has established a unique aesthetic that harmonizes Eastern philosophy with modern form.

His artistic journey is defined by the acclaimed series Gravity/Zero Gravity, which blends realist foundations with Korean expressionism, and Shadow of Shadow, the culmination of his deep introspection and deconstructive practice. A representative of Korean art at the 1994 São Paulo Biennial, his mastery has been recognized with prestigious honors, including the Kim Se-joong Sculpture Award and the Kim Bok-jin Art Prize (2023).

Following a distinguished career as a professor at Hongik University, Kim now continues his practice in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do. In March 2026, the Gimhae Municipal Kim Young-won Museum opened in his hometown to honor his lifelong dedication to art.

Moon Jar24-9(WJ#5), 2024, White Porcelain with clear glaze, wood kiln firing, H50.5xW48.0 cm

 

Lee Dong Sik (1969~)

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Born in Pohang, Gyeongbuk in 1969, Lee Dong-sik earned both his B.F.A. and M.F.A. in Ceramic Arts from Kookmin University. Since his debut solo exhibition at Kyung-in Gallery (Seoul, 2001), he has held 15 solo exhibitions and participated in over 20 group exhibitions worldwide, including the notable Lunar Phases at the Denver Art Museum (Colorado, USA, 2023).

Lee’s ceramic works are highly acclaimed for inheriting the traditional techniques and spiritual essence of Baekja Daeho (White Porcelain Moon Jar) while possessing bold and dynamic lines throughout their form. By embracing the elegant curves of classical porcelain without intentional distortion or exaggeration, he harmonizes tradition with a contemporary sensibility to achieve a timeless aesthetic.

Recognized as a leading figure in contemporary Korean ceramics, Lee is frequently invited by international museums, earning the admiration of collectors and institutions worldwide. His work serves as a cultural intersection, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries to communicate a universal beauty.

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The presentation, 2013, Acrylic on canvas, 60x120cm

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Shim Moon Seup (1943~)

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Born in Tongyeong, Gyeongnam, Shim Moon-seup graduated from the Department of Sculpture at Seoul National University and later served as a professor in the Department of Sculpture at Chung-Ang University from 1985 to 2008.

As a leading figure in Korean contemporary art, Shim has held over 60 solo exhibitions worldwide, including notable showcases such as A Certain Scenery (Perrotin Gallery, Paris, 2023) and SHIM MOON-SEUP: Sculpture of Nature (National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, 2017). Since his early participation in the Paris Biennales of 1971, 1973, and 1975, he has remained at the forefront of the global art scene.

Deeply inspired by the nature of his hometown, Tongyeong, Shim sublimates his experiences and memories into artistic forms. His lifelong exploration of the relationship between "humanity and nature" spans diverse genres, including sculpture and painting. His painterly works, rooted in regionality and site-specificity, have garnered international acclaim, transcending national borders to resonate with audiences worldwide.

Shim’s artistic excellence has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Excellence Award at the 2nd Henry Moore Grand Prize Exhibition (Japan, 1981), the 1st Kim Se-joong Sculpture Award (1987), the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France, 2002), and the 8th Moon Shin Art Prize (2009). A major solo exhibition is scheduled to be presented in Venice, Italy, in 2026.