Artist Statement

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My work is inspired by Buddhism and the images in my dreams. I had the opportunity of studying Tibetan Mandala (map of the Universe) paintings and I was fascinated by the patterns and symbols found in them.  In my drawings, the concept of Karma plays an important role. It appears as the line and dot that constantly meet and separate throughout the entire picture plane. That line and dot represent the path of my life. I move to meet people, to stay, and at some point, to separate from them in many different ways. Often I try to combine this idea with the images in my dreams. The most frequently appeared dream image is “Star in the sky.”  I have loved stars in the sky since my childhood and had fun with memorizing their names at that time. Very often I dreamed that suddenly stars would come out and dance like a festival and people would watch them dancing.  In my work, my dream images are combined with the images found in the Buddhist Mandala.

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My drawing stands close to the borderline between painting and drawing. I wet the paper with water, pour black ink, and let it dry. I add a little bit of intention to create certain shapes on the paper but the result is never the same as I intended. Then I start from the shape created by the natural force. I consider it as my Karma. I never intended to be born as a woman and a Korean. It has been a restriction that I have had to deal with throughout my life. The pen drawing on top is my choice. I control and create anything on top of it. This process is related to my understanding of life. Now I am still a woman but I am a Korean-American.

 

 

 

Education

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1994 MFA, The State University of New York at Stony Brook, NY

1991 MA in Art Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL

1989MFA course in Painting, Duk-Sung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea

1987 BFA, Duk-Sung Women’s University, Seoul Korea

2001 Courses finished of MA in Art History, The City College, CUNY, NY, NY

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Solo & Two Person Exhibitions

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2019     "Neo-Geo" Gallery Yonhee at Korean Community Center, Tenafly, NJ

2018     “Heejung Kim & Val Sivilli: Recent Works,” Raritan Valley Community College, NJ

2017     “Map of the Universe,” Gallery d’Arte, Chelsea, NY, NY

              “Universe,” Judy Chang Law Firm, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

2011     “Meditation on Repetition,” The Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden, NY

              “The Eyes of Mind,” Gallery 1&9, NJ

2008     “Heejung Kim: The World Between: Sculptural Books,” Fairbanks Gallery, Oregon State University, OR

              “Mutation: Artist Books and Installation by Heejung Kim,” Open Gallery, Northport, NY

2007    “The World Between: Sculptural Books,” Lemmerman Gallery, New Jersey City University, NJ

2006     “Eyes,” Space World, Long Island City, NY, NY

2005     Two Person Exhibition, Heidi Cho Gallery, Chelsea, NY, NY

2003     “Graveyard Offerings,” David Allen Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

1998     Stephen Gang Gallery, NY, NY

1997     Kougeas Gallery & Marshall/Reade Fine Art, E. Boston, MA

1995     Two Person Exhibition, Kougeas Gallery, E. Boston, MA

              Two Person Exhibition, 479 Gallery Inc., NY, NY

1994     MFA Solo Exhibition, Library Gallery, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

1991     Library Gallery, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

1990     Coalition Gallery, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL

              Levis Faculty Center, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL

 

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Group Exhibitions

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2018     “Seeing Red”, Walsh Gallery at Seton Hall University, NJ

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2017    

“Common Ground,” Morris Arts, NJ

“Art Busan,” International Art Fair, Bexco Exhibition Center, Busan, South Korea

“Art Kyung Ju,” International Art Fair, Kyung Ju, South Korea

“Light Years Away,” Index Art Center, Newark, NJ

“Asia Contemporary Art Show,” Hong Kong

“Aqua art Miami.” Miami, FL

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2016    

“New Drawing New Jersey”, Drawing Rooms, Jersey City, NJ

“Aspects: Works by Korean Artists in America”, Western Kentucky University, KY

“Raritan Valley Community College Art Faculty Exhibition”, Somerville, NJ

 

2015    

“From Baekdu to Halla”, Kyungbokgoong art center, Seoul, South Korea

“The Beauty of Watercolour”, the Belskie Museum of Art & Science, NJ

“IAM Pocket-Sized”, Islip Art Museum, East Islip, NY

"Community Art Project 2015,” Flushing Town Hall Gallery, NY

 

2014    

“The Heart of Gold,” Mabi Museum of the Arts, NJ

"Community Art Project 2014,” Flushing Town Hall Gallery, NY

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2013    

“Ironbound Unbound #4,” Sumei Art Center, NJ

“I Came So Far For Beauty,” Riverside Gallery, NJ

 

2012     “Ironbound Unbound #3,” Sumei Art Center, NJ

 

2011    

“Four Artists’ Exhibition,” Gallery Maum, Manhattan, NY

“Information Revisited: Encyclopedia Britannica Project,” traveling exhibition, Collage of Saint Elizabeth, NJ

“Art Faculty Biennial Exhibition,” New Jersey City University, NJ

“Art for Christmas Group Exhibition for Community,” Gallery 1&9, NJ

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2010    

“Material Girls,” Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Summit, NJ

“Information Revisited: Encyclopedia Britannica Project,” Belskie Museum of Art, Closter, NJ

“Wind, Where Are You Going?” Gallery Maum, Manhattan, NY

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2009    

“beyondWORDS: BookFest 2009,” Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, NJ

“UnHyungKung-Ae,” Kwan Hun Gallery, Seoul, Korea

“The Future of Art,” Sumei Multidisciplinary Art Center, NJ

“Yes, We are Connected!,” Space World, Long Island City, NY, NY

“Children’s Art Exhibition,” Palisades Park, NJ

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2008    

“Insight,” Closter Art Studio, Closter, NJ

“Visual Sound,” Closter Art Studio, Closter, NJ

“…About Object,” Closter Art Studio, Closter, NJ

“Book Artists’ Works,” Belskie Museum, Closter, NJ

“Gallery 744- A Juried Exhibition, Newark, NJ

“Faculty Show,” New Jersey City University, NJ

“The Open Book,” The Gallery Oms, Fort Lee, NJ

“KoreaNOW,” Hutchins Gallery, C.W.Post Long Island University, NY

“Nakedness,” Broadway Gallery, Manhattan, NY

“The Nature of Duality,” The Brennan Gallery, Justice William Brennan Court House, NJ

“Five Corners,” Sanmaroo Gallery, NJ  

“Open Doors ’07,” 744 Gallery, National Newark Building, Newark, NJ

“Between Memory and Reality,” Korea Daily Cultural Center Gallery, NJ

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2006

“Korean-American Contemporary Art in Perth Amboy,” Perth Amboy Gallery Center for the  Arts, NJ

“Telling the Story: Artists’ Books,” The Noyes Museum, NJ

“Reborn,” Gallery CPS, Manhattan, NY

“The Seventh National Juried Show,” Ceres Gallery, Chelsea, Manhattan, NY

“Beyond Boundaries,” East-Here Group exhibition, Hun Gallery, Manhattan, NY

“ACT II,” Multimedia center, Palisades Park public library, NJ

“Winter Invitational,” The Gallery Oms, Fort Lee, NJ

“Winter Invitational,” The Gallery Oms, Fort Lee, NJ

“Oneness,” The Gallery Oms, Fort Lee, NJ

“The Magic Flute,” Art director, Cultural Art Center, Kun-po, Korea

“Winter Invitational,” Renaissance Office Center, Englewood, NJ

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2005    

“Identity,” AAWAA Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

“Here Between,” AAWAA Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

“Tunnels and Bridges,” Ceres Gallery, Chelsea, NY, NY

“Resonance,” Lemmerman Gallery, New Jersey City University, NJ

“Identity,” AAWAA Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

“Celebrating Women and the Arts: Struggles and Triumphs,” NGO Committee on the Status of Women, Mission of Armenia, NY

“Here Between,” AAWAA Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

“Look and See,” Gallery CPS, NY, NY

“Tunnels and Bridges,” Ceres Gallery, Chelsea, NY, NY

“Art Faculty Biennial Exhibition,” Lemmerman Gallery, New Jersey City University, NJ

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2004

​“To Die For,” Heidi Cho Gallery, NY, NY

“Art Faculty Biennial Exhibition,” Lemmerman Gallery, New Jersey City University, NJ

“Wish You Were Here III,” A.I.R. Gallery, NY, NY

“Taking Hands,” organized by AAWAA, A.I.R. Gallery, NY, NY

“Composition in Hi-Fi,” David Allen Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

 

2003

“100 Years, 100 Dreams,” Space World, Long Island City, NY

“Wish You Were Here Too!” A.I.R. Gallery, NY, NY

“Food For Thought,” Sumei Multidisciplinary Arts Center, NJ

“AAAC STORY,” Asian American Arts Centre, NY, NY

“Artcetera,” Art Auction - Benefit AIDS action committee, Boston, MA

“The Magic Flute,” Art director, Flushing Town Hall, Flushing, NY

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2001 The Staller Center Gala, Staller Center, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

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1999

“The Impact of Millennium,” Space World, Long Island City, NY

“Four Women,” Sumei Multidisciplinary Arts Center, NJ

“Constellations and Crustaceans,” Roy G. BIV Gallery, OH

Alumni Art Exhibition, University Art Gallery, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

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1997

“Inner Light,” Cleveland State University Art Gallery, Cleveland, OH

“Invitational: A Survey of Book Art,” Delaware Arts Center Gallery, NY

“Text and Identity,” University Art Gallery, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

“Contemporary Asian Artists in America,” Smithtown Township Arts Council, NY

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1996

“Passion & Compassion,” Asian American Arts Centre, NY, NY

“Six Artists’ Exhibition,” Kougeas Gallery, E. Boston, MA

“Our Deities,” ISE Art Foundation, NY, NY

“Winter Invitational,” Kougeas Gallery, E. Boston, MA

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1995 Alumni Exhibition, The Union Art Gallery, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

 

1994

The M.F.A. Show, University Art Gallery, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

MFA Exhibition, The Art Galley, Hunter College, NY, NY

“Asian Arts Festival,” The Union Art Gallery, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

“Dream,” Directed performance, Calderone Theater, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

“Where’s Mammy?” Participated in performance, Parish Museum, S. Hampton, NY

“Rein Is To Laugh,” Participated in performance, Museum of Modern Art, NY, NY

 

1991“Brave New World for Women Artists,” The Union Art Gallery, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

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1989    

Emerging Artists’ Exhibition, Koan-Hun Gallery, Seoul, Korea

“Dasut,” Chung-Nam Gallery, Seoul, Korea

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1988

“Dasut,” Total Gallery, Seoul, Korea

“F-303,” Kyung-In Gallery, Seoul, Korea

 

1987

Emerging Artists’ Exhibition, Chung-Yeon Gallery, Seoul, Korea

“Dasut,” Batangol Gallery, Seoul, Korea

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Professional Experience: Teaching Experience, or Academic Appointments 

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14-19    Adjunct Professor, 2-D Design, 3-D Design, Drawing I, Raritan Valley Community College, NJ

00-14    Adjunct Professor, Intro to Making Artist Books, Principles of Painting, 2-D design,

              Drawing & Composition I, NewJersey City University, NJ

03-08    Instructor, Watercolour / Gouache / Oil Painting, the Cultural Center, the Korea Central Daily News, NJ

2008     Instructor, Painting, Drawing, Children’s art, Closter Art Studio, NJ

2001     Professor, Art Fundamentals / Oil Painting / History of the 20th Century Art, Duk-Sung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea

97-07    Instructor, Children’s Art Program, The Bronx School of Music and Arts, Bronx, NY

94-95    Instructor, Watercolour / Drawing, Union Craft Center, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

 

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Grants/Fellowships (Awards/Honors)

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1999    Chung-Am Fellowship, Seoul, Korea

1995    Artist Grant, Hoelim Apparel Co. Ltd., Seoul, Korea

1992-1993  Goldberger Fellowship, State University of New York at Stony Brook, NY

1990     Honor Society of Delta Kappa, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL

1990     Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL

89-91    Woon-Hyun Fellowship, Duk-Sung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea

1887     Prize for Academic Excellence, Duk-Sung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea

 

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Bibliography (Reviews/Articles/Catalogues, Reviews/Articles/Interviews)

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2018     “Seeing Red”, Exhibition brochure, p. 4, Seton Hall University, NJ

 

2016     “Heejung Kim”, New Drawing New Jersey, pp. 22-25, Drawing Rooms, Jersey City, NJ

 

2013     “Midori Yoshimoto Interviews Artist Heejung Kim,” Ironbound Unbound #4-Open Doors 2013, Prospect St. Fire House Cultural Center, NJ

 

2012     “Artist Heejung Kim,” Ironbound Unbound #3-Open Doors 2012, Prospect St. Fire House Cultural Center, NJ

 

2010    

“Fashion Becomes Art in Exhibits at Morris Museum and Visual Arts Center,” The Star-Ledger, Sunday, July 25, 2010, NJ

“Poignancy & Elegance,” Design NJ, pp.118-9, April/May 2010, NJ

“Information Revisited: Encyclopedia Britannica Project,” exhibition catalog, June 2010, Belskie Museum of Art, Closter, NJ

 

2009    

“Art that’s ahead of its time,” The Star-Ledger, p.19,11/16/2009, NJ

“Beyond Words: Book Fest 2009,” exhibition catalog, Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, Loveladies, NJ

“An Art That Binds Comes to LBIF,” Section Two, The Sandpaper, 6/17/2009, NJ

 

2007    

“Snapshots of Book Art In Asia,” Ampersand, The Quarterly Journal of the Pacific Center for the Book Arts, Summer 2007, Vol.24, No. 4, CA

“Asian American Art Associations in New York City,” No. 1 International Journal of Multicultural Education, Art Review, Vol. 9, 2007, Internet, NY

 

2006     “Look Closely, Now Focus:The Artist’s Books of Heejung Kim,” Artists’ Books Reviews, p. 2-3 &10, #25- Autumn/2006, AZ

 

2005     “Of Asian Nature, Spirit And the Garden State,” The New York Times, section 14, New Jersey, Sunday, 4/3/2005, NY

 

2003    

“Korean-American: Artist Dream,” NY ARTS, p.52, Summer/2003, NY, NY

“Earnest ‘Flute’ played at Flushing Town Hall,” TIMESledger.com, 8/14/2003, NY

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1997     “In Their Sights,” ARTnews, p.99, March/1997, NY, NY

 

1996     “Heejung Kim,” Modern Buddhism Magazine, p. 55, February/1996, NY, NY

 

1995     “Visual Record of Experience,” The Segye Times, p.5, 5/17/1995, NY, NY

 

1994     “Staller Center,” Stateman, p. 9, 2/07/1994, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

 

1990     “Objects of Visual Power and Beauty,” Graduate Student News & Views, p. 7, 10/20/1992, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

 

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Publications: Published Writings, Critical Writings

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1999     “Recent Models and Freaks,” Http://web.gsuc.cuny.edu/dsc/freaks.html, NY, NY

1995     “Boundary: Liberty and Equality on Everybody’s Face,” New Observations, pp.10-11, Volume 117, NY, NY

 

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Visiting Artist Lectures: Lectures/Workshops/Critiques, Guest Lectures 

 

2018    

Artist Talk, “NJ Women Artists,” Monclair Art Museum, NJ

Artist Talk, “Heejung Kim & Val Sivilli: Recent Works,” Raritan Valley Community College, NJ

 

2009     Artist Talk, “The Future of Art,” Sumei Multidisciplinary Art Center, NJ

 

2005    

Artist talk, “Resonance,” Lemmerman Gallery, New Jersey City University, NJ

Panelist, “Tunnels and Bridges,” Ceres Gallery, Chelsea, NY, NY

 

2003     Lecturer/ Critiques, “Food For Thought,” Sumei Multidisciplinary Arts Center, NJ

 

1998     Guest speaker, Duk-Sung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea

 

1997     Guest speaker, Persons School of Design, NY, NY

 

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Gallery Representation: Gallery Affiliation 

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2008-    Center for The Book Arts, NY, NY

2006-    Open Gallery, Northport, Long Island, NY

1999-    Sumei Multidisciplinary Arts Center, NJ

1994-    Asian American Arts Centre, NY, NY

 

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Professional Service 

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2004-5  Board of Director, Asian American Women Artists Alliance, Brooklyn, NY

2005-    Board of Director, EAST-HERE, NY/NJ

 

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Professional Organizations:Professional Affiliations)

 

2008     Gallery Director, Closter Art Studio, Closter, NJ

 

2003-    Art Director, Asian American Opera Society, Bronx, NY

 

02-03   

Education / Program manager, Asian American Arts Centre, NY, NY

Exhibition manager, Asian American Arts Centre, NY, NY

 

1994     Assistant, Registration Dept., Museums at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY

 

Collections

 

2019     Princeton University

              Art Appel Gallery, Athens, Greece

2011     Hanyang Asian Food and Co.

2006     Warner meet. Co

2003     Asian American Arts Centre, NYC

1994     Pamela Sienna

 

***Many Private Collections

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Commissions

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2014     “The Magic Flute by Mozart in the Korean version,” Children’s Artbook, South Korea

2003     Props and stage set for “The Magic Flute,” Flushing Town Hall, Flushing, NY

 

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References

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Ben Jones, Professor, Art Department, NJCU, NJ

Howardena Pindell, Professor, Art Department, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

Rhonda Cooper, Art Director, University art gallery, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY

Douglas E. Russell, Art Director, Fairbanks Gallery, Oregon State University, OR