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Biography

About Joo – Korean-American Fine Artist Bridging East and West


Joo is a Korean-American artist blending traditional Korean fine art techniques with the beauty of Western landscapes. After a 20-year career in nursing and special education in the U.S., she returned to Korea in 2010 to study art, earning a Master’s in Korean Fine Art in 2021. Now based in the U.S., Joo creates meditative, emotionally rich paintings using natural and synthetic pigments on mulberry paper and silk. Influenced by East Asian philosophy and the concept of interconnectedness, her work explores the deep ties between humanity, nature, and the universe.  Joo’s art uniquely combines Korean fine art techniques, Eastern philosophy, and Western nature scenes, creating a cross-cultural dialogue that speaks to universal human experiences. Her pieces are meditative, emotional, and visually rich—rooted in tradition, yet reflective of modern global perspectives.

Artist Statement

Traditional Korean Pigment Painting – Expressing Harmony and Disruption in an Interconnected World

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My painting practice is rooted in the traditional Korean pigmenting method, a technique that combines time-honored materials with a deep philosophical foundation. I use Chinese ink, and natural or synthetic pigments derived from mineral rocks and plants, along with gold and silver. These finely crushed pigments are mixed with gelatin binders and diluted with water, then applied in layered washes to silk or Korean mulberry paper (hanji).

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The layering technique is similar in intent to oil painting, but differs in execution. Each layer is carefully built up to reveal the tones beneath, resulting in subtle, translucent colors that create depth and complexity. This approach gives my work a distinct, luminous quality.

Painting on silk involves a unique process: most of the pigment is applied to the back of the fabric and finished with delicate details on the front. In contrast, painting on mulberry paper follows more conventional front-facing techniques. Both require careful preparation and precise application to achieve the desired effect.

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My work is influenced by East Asian philosophy, where the universe is seen as a web of interdependent relationships—connecting humans, nature, the environment, and the cosmos. Life, from birth to death, is shaped by continuous interactions between causes and conditions. A seed blooms with proper soil, water, and sunlight, but fades when those conditions change. In this worldview, everything is interconnected and governed by the dynamic balance of yin and yang energy.  When that energy flow is interrupted, harmony is lost—manifesting as physical or psychological illness in humans, environmental disruption in nature, or destruction on a larger scale. My paintings reflect this ongoing tension between harmony and disruption in our interconnected world. Through layered pigment and traditional Korean techniques, I seek to visualize the delicate balance that shapes all living forms.

Curriculum Vitae

 Education:

  • 2020: Master’s degree in Korean Fine Art, Hongik University, Seoul, Korea 

 

Exhibitions:

  • 2025:  OCFA monthly group exhibitions, Santa Ana, CA

  • 2025:  juried exhibition, ‘Edge Now’, KCCLA & LAUNCH, LA, CA

  • 2024:  Tag Gallery monthly group exhibitions, LA, CA

  • 2024:  juried exhibition, ‘Made in the USA; Let Freedom Ring’ Tag Gallery, LA, CA

  • 2024:  juried internet exhibitions (BIAFARIN); ‘Life & Death’, ‘Scenic’, ‘Lost’, ‘Emotions’, ‘Elements’

  • 2024:  solo exhibition, TAG Gallery, LA, CA

  • 2023:  juried exhibition, ‘Contemplating Boundaries’, KCCLA & LAUNCH, LA, CA

  • 2023:  group exhibition ‘In Space Harmony’, KAASC, Lee & Lee Gallery, LA, CA

  • 2023:  TAG Gallery monthly group exhibitions, LA, CA

  • 2022: group exhibition, KAASC, KCCLA, Los Angeles, CA

  • 2020: solo exhibition, Kyung-In Museum of Fine Art Ltd., Seoul, Korea

  • 2020: group exhibition, Gallery Hwain, Seoul, Korea 

  • 2019: group exhibition, Korean National Museum, Seoul, Korea

  • 2019: group exhibition, Insa Art Center, Seoul, Korea 

  • 2018: group exhibition, Chungju National Museum, Chungju, Korea

  • 2017: group exhibition, Namsan Gallery, Seoul, Korea

  • 2016: group exhibition, Osaka Korean Cultural Center, Osaka, Japan

  • 2016: group exhibition, Seoul Animation Gallery, Seoul, Korea 

  • 2016: group exhibition, Korean Embassy, Canada 

  • 2016: group exhibition, Seoul City Kyunghee Palace Gallery, Seoul, Korea 

  • 2015: group exhibition, MIAF Myungdong International Art Festival, Seoul, Korea

  • 2015: group exhibition, BIEAF Busan International Environmental Art Festival, Busan, Korea 

  • 2015: group exhibition, Yungsan Art Hall, Seoul, Korea 

  • 2015: group exhibition, Yungsan Art Hall, Seoul, Korea

 

 Awards​

  • 2020: The 39 thGrand Art Exhibition of Korea by Korean Fine Arts Association 

  • 2019: Inde’pendants Korea 2019 by Amitie’s Internationales Andre’ Malraux and UBin Cultural 

    • Foundation 

  • 2018: National Korean Folk Art Contests by Korea Folk Painting Promotion Association

  • 2017: National Korean Folk Art Contests by Korea Folk Painting Promotion Association 

  • 2017: National Korean Folk Art Contests by Kimsatgat Cultural Art Festival 

  • 2017: The 10th National Korean Folk Art Contests by Korean Folk Art Association 

  • 2015: The 16th Korea Woman Art Exhibition by National Patriot and Veterans Culture Arts 

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​Association  

  • 2015: The 29th Korea Fine Art Grand Exhibition by National Patriot and Veterans Culture Arts

 

Gallery Affiliation

  • 2023: TAG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

  • 2025:  Orange County Fine Art Association

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