Five More Essential Voices from Korea
The second half of this list introduces Korean artists who continue to expand the nation’s cultural influence across media, technology, and global contemporary art discourse.
6. Nam June Paik
The Father of Video Art
No list of Korean contemporary artists is complete without Nam June Paik. A pioneer of media art, his experimental use of television screens, robotics, and electronic sound laid the foundation for today’s digital and new media art.
Why he matters:
- The single most influential video artist in global art history
- Invented new artistic languages using TV, electronics, and broadcast media
- His legacy defines contemporary media art to this day
Key works: TV Buddha, Electronic Superhighway, Global Groove
7. Yoo Youngkuk
Modernist Landscapes and Abstract Vision
Yoo Youngkuk is considered one of Korea’s greatest modern abstract painters. His vibrant geometric landscapes evoke mountains, nature, and Korean topography in bold, simplified forms.
Why he matters:
- A foundational figure in Korean abstraction
- His influence shapes modern and contemporary painting in Korea
- Continues to gain global recognition
Key works: Mountain series
8. Kyungah Ham
Political Embroidery, Borders, and Hidden Labor
Kyungah Ham collaborates with anonymous North Korean artisans, sending designs across the DMZ where they are hand-embroidered in secret. Her works highlight censorship, politics, and invisible labor through intricate textile art.
Why she matters:
- Uses cross-border collaboration as both concept and medium
- One of the most politically significant Korean artists today
- Her embroidered works challenge assumptions about propaganda and art
Key works: What You See Is the Unseen, SMS Series
9. Suki Seokyeong Kang
Bodies, Objects, and Choreographed Space
Suki Seokyeong Kang blends sculpture, painting, movement, and video. Her installations often reference traditional Korean court dances, transforming formal structures into contemporary spatial compositions.
Why she matters:
- Represents the new generation of Korean conceptual installation artists
- Exhibited at Venice Biennale and Carnegie International
- Merges choreography and sculpture in innovative ways
Key works: Black Mat Orchestra, Land Sand Strand
10. Lee Ufan
Mono-ha Master of Materials, Space, and Phenomenology
Lee Ufan, a core figure of Mono-ha, explores relationships between natural and industrial materials, space, and perception. His sculptural philosophy emphasizes presence, balance, and quiet tension.
Why he matters:
- Among the most important artists in East Asian contemporary art
- Retrospectives at Guggenheim, Pompidou, and Versailles
- His Relatum works shaped the aesthetics of postwar minimalism and phenomenology
Key works: Relatum, From Line, From Point
