Kim is a London-based narrative painter who was born and raised in South Korea.
Kim’s work addresses the formation and re-negotiation of cultural identity, drawing from her own experience growing up in a conservative Korean context. Since moving to London in 2016, Kim was confronted with a radically unfamiliar cultural environment which led to a range of new perspectives on beauty, femininity, and social relations. Her ongoing research is the result of this continually expanding focus, encompassing a broad investigation of the social and political issues surrounding the identity of women, particularly from her own East Asian milieu.
The subjects of her paintings, primarily women, are drawn from real-life but depicted in an imaginary setting, or as Kim describes it, ‘a virtual narrative’.
‘The women in my paintings are randomly placed in isolated, ironic or confusing situations that represent certain issues in the real world or personal crisis.’
These figures radiate a feeling of discomfort, created by their personal circumstances: Kim is interested in this psychological portrayal more than what she calls the ‘root and process’ of the work. Rather than attempting to define her subject’s feelings, however, she focuses on presenting their universality, thus producing ‘little points of contact for empathy with women like her.’
Education
2016-2017 Chelsea College of Arts / London
MA Fine Art
2004-2009 Ewha Womans University/ Seoul
BA Visual Information Design
Fine Art Degree
Solo & Two-person Exhibitions
2022 <Unfilled Blues : Minjoo Kim & Ethel Coppieters>
Artistellar Gallery / London
2018 <Residence>
30 Cranley Mews / London
2017 <SNOOZE : Minjoo Kim & Siannon Saunders>
Hundred Years Gallery / London
2016 <Too YOUNG To be True> Gallery IS/ Seoul
- Selected as ‘Artist of 5th Gallery iS Creative Support Program'
2014 <Between> Gallery IS/ Seoul
Group Exhibitions
2022 Woman to Watch
Reem Gallery / London
2022 Gradara Contemporary
Gradara Contemporanea / Rimini, Italy
2021 Bankley Open 2021
Bankley Gallery / Manchester
2021 Let Us Eat Cake
Pineapple Black Arts / Middlesbrough
2020 Isolation Mastered
JD Malat Gallery / London
2019 Bow Open 2019
Nunnery Gallery / London
2019 Further From Heaven
Hotel Elephant Workspace / London
2019 Three Pillars
Chelsea Gallery / London
2019 The Female Gaze
Theatre Deli / London
2019 HIX AWARD 2018
Coutts / London
2018 HIX AWARD 2018
HIX Art Gallery / London
2018 SERENITY
The Orange, PoptArt Gallery / London
2018 SUMMER SALON 2018
Candid Arts Trust Gallery / London
2018 'She Performs'
London Gallery West / London
2018 Open Studios
Bow Arts, The Rum Factory / London
2017 Affordable Art Fair 2017 Battersea Evolution / London
- Invited to the Recent Graduate’s Exhibition section
2017 Chelsea Summer Show
Chelsea College of Arts / London
2017 <Body Party>
MAFA Gallery, Chelsea College of Arts / London
2017 MA Fine Art Interim Show
Cook House / London
2017 <SEE ART Group Show>
Gallery Toon/ Chuncheon
2016 <Contemporary Paintings>
The Brick Lane Gallery/ London
2016 Gwanghwamun International Art Festival
Sejong Art Hall/ Seoul
- Selected for Asia Contemporary Young Artist
2015 Asian Students & Young Artists Art Festival
Culture Station/ Seoul
- Selected for the 1st session exhibition
2015 Potential Art group exhibition
Hanjeon Art Center / Seoul
2013 <Invited 3 Artists> Timber Coffee/ Gumi
Awards and other careers
2020 John Moores Painting Prize 2020
- Longlisted
2020 Jackson’s Painting Prize 2020
- Longlisted
2018 HIX AWARD 2018
- Finalisted
2016 World Illustration Challenge, Grafolio.com
- Winner of Challenge Vol.2
2015 Designing for 2015 MUSE INCITY FESTIVAL