Born in South Korea, Brooklyn-based artist Mi Ju received a BFA in painting and drawing at the San Francisco Art Institute and an MFA in painting and drawing at Pratt Institute.  She has exhibited her work internationally, including solo exhibitions in Copenhagen, San Francisco, and New York City.  Her work has been reviewed in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Observer. Mi’s work is in the collection of the Fredrick R. Weisman Foundation of Los Angeles and recently exhibited at the Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard, California. 

"I perceive nature as flat, crowded, and infinite. Often times, the world is too large to comprehend, too crowded to find a focus. Countless living organisms are packed layer by layer, interconnected with each other. My compositions develop from the contemplation of opposing concepts: ephemeral and eternal, uncensored and restrained, improvised and strategic. The work often combines both cuteness and violence. By understanding natural elements from micro to macro, fractals to flocks, and ants to people, I reflect mixed perceptions of nature through my work. Nature could be seen as controllable, appealing, and delightful, yet from a different perspective, natural elements can become overwhelming and destructive.

I was born in South Korea. My father ran a textile factory and my mother was a Buddhist temple florist. Massive rolls of fabric were always around me during my childhood, their colorful patterns and diverse textures affecting my visual expression. The intricate natural ornaments and bizarre creatures filling Buddhist temples inspired my imagination.

Studying in Australia, San Francisco, and New York has given me insight into the various perspectives people have about nature. Native American totem poles, Aboriginal topographical art, and the complexity of psychedelic art all influence my artistic process. I look to scientific theories on the origin of life, emergence patterns, and swarm behavior to introduce more intricacy and narrative into my work."

Mi Ju, 2015

 

 

Download CV as pdf Download available works as pdf Earlier works

Exhibitions

Press

Artist info