Blue Dragon, mixed media, 91x73cm, 2008

Born in 1951 in Gyeongju, Sun-lee Kim has never ceased painting since she first picked up a brush in 1955. At a time when societal expectations confined women to household labor and denied them the freedom to pursue artistic careers, she forged her own path—quietly but persistently—without ever pausing her artistic journey.

Deeply influenced by traditional Korean minhwa (folk painting), and shaped by over a decade of study in both folk art and ceramics, Kim has developed a distinct body of work in low-relief ceramic sculpture. Her unique mixed-media creations range across various themes, notably her celebrated “Tiger and Rooster” series and her powerful ceramic series.

This exhibition focuses on her large-scale earthenware works—pieces that evoke echoes of ancient forms, yet feel strikingly contemporary. Though sculpted from earth, her works transcend their material, conveying a sense of vitality that is both timeless and bold. The emotional depth and formal clarity of her art emerge from thousands of drawings and years of working on monumental canvases, resulting in a visual language that is truly her own.