Born in 1951

Born in 1951 in Gyeongju, a historic city in South Korea known for its cultural heritage, Kim Sun-lee is a contemporary artist who has dedicated her life to reinterpreting traditional Korean art in modern forms. She studied Art Education at Kyung Hee University in Seoul and has since participated in over 300 solo and group exhibitions both in Korea and abroad. Her works have been showcased in more than 30 international art fairs, including those in Miami, Singapore, and Japan.

Kim’s artistic style is deeply rooted in Korea’s traditional ceramics and minhwa, or folk painting. She is best known for her distinctive “relief ceramic” works, a unique technique in which she combines clay and acrylic paint to create three-dimensional ceramic forms on canvas. This innovative approach blurs the boundaries between painting and sculpture, evoking both texture and narrative on a single plane.

Her iconic series include tigers and roosters, symbols that frequently appear in Korean folk art, as well as pottery-inspired works that reflect her deep appreciation for Korea’s rich ceramic traditions. In recent years, she has also explored earthenware motifs, reinterpreting ancient Korean forms through a modern lens.

Kim Sun-lee’s art speaks to both Korean heritage and universal emotion. Through familiar traditional motifs expressed with contemporary techniques, her works resonate with warmth, nostalgia, and cultural pride. She continues to contribute to the Korean art scene with her unique blend of tradition and innovation, offering international audiences a meaningful glimpse into the soul of Korean culture.