Kim Hong Joo Biography

Born in Hoein, Chungcheong Province in 1945, Kim Hong Joo received both his BA and MFA in painting at Hongik University, Seoul. He began receiving artistic recognition early on from his participation in exhibitions such as École de Seoul, and Independent in Seoul, and from 1973 to 1977 he was a member of the experimental arts group S.T (Space Time) Group and escaped the style in fashion at the time to explore new paintings. Delving into a practice of hyperreal from late 1970s to early 1980s, Kim participated in the young artists’ exhibition Image 78, and was the recipient of the Grand Prize from the Grand Prix Exhibition of Korean Art in 1978, and the Special Award at Cagne International Painting Festival in 1980. Since then he has been developing his own aesthetic language through fine brushstroke paintings of motifs such as landscapes, flowers, and text. From his 1997 retrospective survey at Kumho Museum of Art, Seoul, Kim Hong Joo has been widely regarded by the critics, art professionals, and the general public alike. He was a professor of painting at Mokwon University, Daejeon, from 1981 to 2010, and is now an emeritus professor.