Why the Seoul Museum of Art Keeps Expanding
Six Highlights of Frieze Seoul 2024
Kiaf SEOUL 2024: In Photos
Selected by a committee of respected gallerists, the following Ocula Member galleries are considered to be among the best in Seoul.
Read MoreSome of the best international contemporary art can be found in galleries in the historic Jongno-Gu, such as Kukje Gallery. The core exhibitions in the gallery's art space highlight the most promising Korean artists and established artists with contemporary art backgrounds, including artists such as Anish Kapoor, Bill Viola, Chung Chang-Sup, Candida Höfer, Gimhongsok, and Haegue Yang.
From Kukje Gallery, walk along the main street flanking Gyeongbok Palace to visit leading Korean galleries in Seoul. PKM Gallery, established in 2001 by Park Kyung-Mee, the commissioner of the Korean Pavilion at the 49th Venice Biennale, represents many influential and mid-career artists from Korea. Among these is the estate of Yun Hyong-keun, a key figure in the history of abstraction and Dansaekhwa in Korea. Barakat Contemporary, which opened in 2016, has an extensive programme that has exhibited the work of Michael Rakowitz, Shezad Dawood, and El Anatsui, among others. Arario Gallery, near Anguk subway station, has garnered a reputation for introducing Indian and Southeast Asian artists to Korea.
In more recent years, buoyed by the rise of a new generation of collectors in South Korea, accessibility to the broader Asia region, and the commitment by Frieze to host a Seoul art fair each year, international galleries have sought a presence in the city. Berlin-based Peres Projects can be found in Jongno, while Esther Schipper, Pace Gallery, Lehmann Maupin, Thaddeus Ropac, and Various Small Fires all have spaces in Yongsan-gu, a district famous for its vibrant nightlife in Itaewon. Yongsan-gu is also home to leading Korean galleries Gallery Baton, P21, and Whistle, known for their representations of up-and coming-Korean and international artists.
On the other side of Han River, which divides Seoul into Gangbuk (North of the River) and Gangnam (South of the River), Perrotin, Massimo de Carlo, KÖNIG GALERIE, JARILAGER Gallery, and Tang Contemporary Art have established spaces in the fashionable neighbourhood of Apgujeong. Seasoned Korean and international galleries can also be found in the wider Gangnam-gu, among them Gladstone Gallery, ONE AND J. Gallery, Seojung Art, and White Cube.
Explore the current and upcoming exhibitions showing at Ocula Member Galleries, Institutions and non-profit art spaces.
Read MoreOur exhibition profiles include press releases, installation images, and for gallery spaces, a selection of artworks being shown in Seoul. They also include access to profiles on exhibiting artists. With the aim to present only the best of contemporary art on Ocula, our Members are determined by a selection committee of respected and influential international gallerists.
Seoul's museums, and non-profit institutions offer must-see viewing. Here is our selection of the best art spaces to visit in Seoul.
Ocula Magazine has developed a reputation for thoughtful and in-depth editorial dedicated to exploring the best in contemporary art.
Read MoreOur team regularly covers shows and art news relevant to Seoul. Ocula has interviewed many Korean and international artists who regularly show in Seoul, including Haegue Yang, Do Ho Suh, Daniel Boyd, Ugo Rondinone, and Anish Kapoor. Our editorial team also covers exhibitions via insights and features.
In Seoul you can view work by some of the world's most exciting Korean and international emerging artists. Below is a selection of artists with works currently on view in exhibitions showing with Ocula Member Galleries.
Read MoreSign up to My Ocula to follow artists and galleries, save artworks to your favourites, and be informed when new exhibitions and features are published.
For those seeking an enriching experience of contemporary art in Seoul, Frieze Seoul and the Korea International Art Fair (Kiaf SEOUL) must not be missed. These two art fairs take place over what is now known in the global contemporary art calendar as Seoul Art Week in September, offering an immersive and enlightening journey into the heart of creativity and culture in Korea.
Read MoreFrieze Seoul, helmed by Patrick Lee, hosts over 100 of the world's leading contemporary art galleries showing group and solo booths. Showcasing an eclectic array of modern and contemporary artistic expressions, Frieze Seoul is an important global art world event to gauge the current state of the contemporary art market. Frieze returns to the Korean capital with Frieze Film, an initiative supporting the city's non-profit spaces, and the excitement of Frieze Music.
Similarly, Kiaf SEOUL stands as a testament to the city's dedication to both local and international artistic prowess. As a magnet for art enthusiasts and collectors, Kiaf SEOUL seamlessly melds traditional Korean art with the most recent global trends. The fair's carefully curated exhibitions not only provide a glimpse into the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary art, but also celebrate the city's rich cultural heritage. As a hub for cultural exchange, facilitating connections between artists, galleries, and visitors, Kiaf SEOUL fosters a deeper understanding of the artistic narrative both within Korea and on a global scale.
Seoul, the capital city of South Korea for more than 600 years, is today the nation's cultural centre, housing many museums, galleries, and exhibition venues. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA Seoul) lies at its heart in Jongno-Gu, next to the historic site of Gyeongbokgung Palace that served as the main royal palace in the Joseon period (1392–1910). This annex of the MMCA is wedged between old and contemporary architecture on palace grounds among various sculpture parks, which also double as outdoor exhibition spaces. In addition, the museum has eight exhibition halls, a video library, a movie theatre, and a food court.
Read MoreWith its main branch based in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do, the MMCA Seoul branch opened in 2013 with the mission to deliver modern and contemporary art to the public. While its core exhibitions are permanent collections, the gallery features special exhibitions from iconic artists. Such artists include Marcel Duchamp, Yun Hyong-keun, Park Seo Bo, Choi Jeong Hwa, Shirin Neshat, Ai Weiwei, Hito Steyerl, and William Kentridge. The MMCA is also the site of prestigious awards such as the MMCA Hyundai Motor Series, dedicated to pioneering Korean artists, Young Korean Artists, and the Korea Artist Prize.
From Gyeongbokgung, take Seoul's Metro or—on a nice day—a ten- to twenty-minute walk to museums and galleries in the nearby Samcheong-dong. Kumho Museum of Art, founded in 1989 to promote Korean art, houses the works of prominent Korean artists who have shaped modern art. Since the mid-2000s, Kumho has also focused its programme on design and architecture.
Gallery Hyundai was founded in 1970 by the pioneering gallerist Park Myung-ja. One of the first galleries to introduce abstract art to Korea, Gallery Hyundai's aims to gain global recognition for Korea's most influential artists and has been integral in developing Korea's contemporary art infrastructure. Gallery Hyundai represents prominent international artists in Asia, such as Kang Ik-Joong, Kwon Young-Woo, and Moon Kyungwon, Iván Navarro, and Robert Indiana. In addition, it has helped foster the careers of major artists that have shaped the course of Korean art history.Nearby Kukje Gallery provides the opportunity for Korean art audiences to encounter the works of internationally acclaimed artists, including Anish Kapoor, Bill Viola, Candida Höfer, Gimhongsok, Haegue Yang, and Kimsooja. Arario Gallery has been a regular presence in Frieze New York and Art Basel in Hong Kong since the early 2000s, while PKM Gallery has consistently presented exhibitions of Korean and international artists whose artworks reflect contemporary art trends, such as Lee Bul, Olafur Eliasson, Bruce Nauman, and Katie Paterson.
Elsewhere in Seoul, contemporary art galleries Gallery Baton, Whistle, P21, and Mo J Gallery can be found in Yongsan-gu, a district famous for its vibrant nightlife in Itaewon, and other seasoned Korean contemporary galleries such as ONE AND J. Gallery and Seojung Art have taken residence in the famous Gangnam.
In the past decade, Seoul has emerged as an international art capital. Perrotin was among the first international galleries to open a branch in Jongno-gu in 2016, followed by JARILAGER Gallery in the same district. Both have since relocated their Seoul spaces to Gangnam. The year 2021 saw four major galleries, Pace Gallery, Gladstone Gallery, König Galerie, and Thaddeus Ropac, establish locations in Seoul.
Art lovers wanting to experience contemporary Korean culture alongside art may venture to the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), which offers public exhibitions that address social issues. The contemporary and modern art museum, located in the former building of the Supreme Court of Korea, is operated by the Seoul City Council. In Dongdaemun district, designed by the acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)'s diverse exhibition program encompasses Korean and international design, fashion, and fine art.
Some of the privately-run art museums in Seoul are also worthwhile for their vast collections. The Leeum Samsung Museum of Art, which opened in 2004, mostly houses traditional Korean art, including 36 pieces recogniszed as national treasures. Architects Jean Nouvel, Rem Koolhaas, and Mario Botta designed its buildings.
Image: Illustration of South Korean landmarks by rawpixel.com.
