Lehmann Maupin and Kukje Gallery announce representation of Korean artist Kim Yun Shin.
Portrait of Kim Yun Shin. Courtesy of Lehmann Maupin and Kukje Gallery.
Lehmann Maupin and Kukje Gallery have announced their joint representation of Korean artist Kim Yun Shin. This development is a significant milestone in the 88-year-old artist’s six-decade career, marking the first time that commercial galleries have represented her. Her debut presentation with Lehmann Maupin will be at Frieze Los Angeles in February, followed by a solo presentation at the gallery’s New York location this March. Kukje Gallery will also open a solo exhibition of the artist’s work in March.
Born in 1935 in Wonsan, North Korea, Kim is recognized as one of the first Korean women formally trained in sculpture. Influenced by her experiences living in France, Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil, Kim uses sculpture, printmaking, and painting to blend disparate cultural and environmental elements. Her work draws on traditional Korean forms and ideas, enriched by her nomadic lifestyle and philosophical reflections on the natural world and the universe.
“Kim’s foundational work as a first-generation woman sculptor in Korea in the late 60s and 70s was instrumental in paving the way for the future generation of women artists and has contributed to the rich diversity of Korean art,” said Emma Son, Lehmann Maupin’s senior director based in Seoul. “Like other pioneering Korean artists from this era, Kim challenged conventional norms in society, including the patriarchy.”
Kim Yun Shin, Song of My Soul 2016-8, 2016–18. Courtesy of the artist and Lehmann Maupin.
Hyun-Sook Lee, Kukje Gallery’s chairperson, also noted the groundbreaking nature of Kim’s practice: “With steadfast dedication and a bold spirit of experimentation for new materials, Kim cultivated her practice in Argentina throughout an era when it was nearly impossible for a woman to work as a full-time sculptor. Amidst the current surge in artworks employing media, digital technology, and the virtual world, Kim's longstanding commitment to the traditional sculptural process, grounded in a profound understanding of materiality, is all the more special.”
Despite her previous lack of gallery representation, Kim’s work has been internationally recognized. She notably participated in the 12th São Paulo Biennial in 1973 and became known for her geometric wooden sculpture series “Add Two Add One, Divide Two Divide.” Kim’s solo exhibition at Nam-Seoul Museum of Art in 2023 marked a high point in her career.
“With my remaining strength, I will return everyone’s support by devoting my time to creating work that I hope will inspire many,” Kim said, regarding the announcement.
