Kim Yun Shin Co-Represented by Kukje Gallery and Lehmann Maupin

Following their presentation of sculptor Kim Yun Shin’s work at Frieze London in 2023, Kukje Gallery will partner with Lehmann Maupin to support the artist, now 88, and introduce her practice to a broader, international art community.

Kim, a first-generation Korean woman sculptor, was born in Wonsan (now part of North Korea) in 1935 during Japanese colonial rule. Since 1984, she has worked mainly in South America, exploring the inherent properties of natural materials such as wood and stone.

‘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,’ Kukje Chairman Hyun-Sook Lee explains.

This collaboration marks the artist’s first-ever partnership with a commercial gallery.

In March 2024, exhibitions will be held at Kukje Gallery, Seoul, and Lehmann Maupin, New York, delving into the artist’s six-decade career. Both presentations provide a rare opportunity for local and Korean audiences to engage with Kim’s work.

‘I deeply appreciate the support and encouragement from the two galleries, as well as the warm reception from the people in my homeland,’ Kim says. ‘With my remaining strength, I will return everyone’s support by devoting my time to creating work that I hope will inspire many.’

Main image: Kim Yun Shin. Courtesy Kukje Gallery and Lehmann Maupin.