K-Art: From Seoul to Miami
Seven Korean Contemporary Artists Make Miami Debut at The National Hotel During Art Basel Week
MIAMI, FL — As Korean cultural influence reaches unprecedented global visibility, seven leading Korean contemporary artists will make a landmark Miami debut across two major platforms during Art Basel Week 2025: a long-form exhibition at The National Hotel in Miami Beach and a special presentation at Art Miami (Booth AM 413). Together, these parallel showcases form one of the strongest Korean contemporary art presences ever staged during Miami Art Week.
K-Art: From Seoul to Miami, curated and produced under the Creative Direction of Jenny Chung (J2 Brand) in partnership with GenArt, opens December 3, 2025 at The National Hotel—marking the historic property’s first exhibition dedicated exclusively to Korean contemporary art. On view through March 31, 2026, the exhibition introduces Miami audiences to the elegance, craftsmanship, and experimental spirit shaping Korea’s current art movement.
Simultaneously, four of these featured artists will be exhibited at Art Miami, one of the most internationally recognized fairs of the week, providing curators, collectors, and press with an additional opportunity to encounter their work in a premier, market-driven context.
“Korean cinema, television, music, fashion, beauty, and design have reshaped international taste—and Korean visual art stands firmly within that same cultural lineage,” says Jenny Chung, Creative Director, J2 Brand.
“These seven artists reveal how Korea’s deep artistic heritage and its contemporary innovation are inseparable. Their work merges traditional craftsmanship, modern materials, and Korean aesthetics. Art Basel Week at The National Hotel is the perfect time to share the sophistication of Korean contemporary art with Miami’s global audience.”
This two-venue debut arrives at a defining cultural moment. As the global Korean Wave (Hallyu) continues to shape film, media, fashion, and beauty, Korea’s visual arts—rooted in philosophical depth, material refinement, and centuries-old technique—are receiving broader international recognition.
The participating artists have exhibited widely across New York, London, Paris, Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Amsterdam, with works held in major private and institutional collections throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
FEATURED ARTISTS
Koh Sang Woo
Internationally recognized for blue-toned portraits of endangered animals created through negative film and color inversion. His work elevates threatened species with the dignity of classical portraiture and is held in major Korean institutions.
Jian Yoo
A master of contemporary mother-of-pearl artworks rooted in the Korean tradition of najeon chilgi. Her intricate compositions, constructed from thousands of hand-cut fragments, bridge heritage craft and contemporary innovation. Her work was presented to President Joe Biden during the Korea–U.S. summit in 2023.
Hong Jeehui
Creates mixed-media abstractions using broken glass, wire, and thread, exploring the relationship between fragility, conflict, and renewal. She has collaborated with Christian Dior, Max Mara, and Estée Lauder, and is included in major corporate collections such as LG and Hyosung.
Kim Jihee
One of Korea’s most widely exhibited contemporary artists, with more than 400 exhibitions worldwide. Her acclaimed Sealed Smile series captures emotional duality through figures whose vulnerability sits beneath stylized sunglasses, offering poetic commentary on identity and concealment.
Lee Sangwon
Celebrated for dynamic aerial scenes of beaches, pools, and ski landscapes that blend photography and painting. His works reflect collective longing for connection, presence, and leisure. Collections include the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Korea and the Seoul Museum of Art.
Kim Seoul
Creates layered botanical silkscreen works on transparent materials, reflecting on time, cultivation, and nature’s quiet persistence. Her pieces are included in the RISD Museum and Seattle City Hall.
Bon Koo
Hyperrealistic painter exploring symbolism in everyday objects through his Functional Contact series. Using items such as light bulbs and infant bottles, his art transforms the ordinary into meditations on attachment, intimacy, and personal memory.
EXHIBITION INFORMATION
Exhibition:
K-Art: From Seoul to Miami
Opens: December 3, 2025
On View Through: March 31, 2026 (with periodic curated rotations)
Venue: The National Hotel
Address: 1677 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Admission: Free and open to the public
ADDITIONAL MIAMI ART WEEK PRESENTATION
Art Miami 2025 (Booth AM 413)
Dates: December 2–7, 2025
VIP Preview: December 2
Four artists featured in K-Art: From Seoul to Miami will also be presented at Art Miami, one of the most respected international fairs during Miami Art Week. Their dual presence at The National Hotel and Art Miami allows critics, curators, and cultural leaders to encounter their work in both exhibition and commercial contexts during the height of the city’s global art season.
ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP
This initiative represents a collaboration between J2 Brand, GenArt, and The National Hotel, uniting curatorial direction, cultural programming, and architectural heritage. The National Hotel’s preserved 1939 Art Deco interiors serve as a dialogue between historical design and contemporary Korean expression.
ABOUT J2 BRAND
J2 Brand connects Korean contemporary artists with global audiences through curated exhibitions, strategic partnerships, and cultural initiatives. Founded by Creative Director Jenny Chung, the agency champions artists working at the intersection of fine art, heritage craft, and contemporary influence under the mission:
“Where Culture Connects.”
j2brand.com | @j2brand.art
ABOUT GENART
Founded in 1993, GenArt is a fashion, art, film, beauty, and cultural agency supporting emerging innovators through exhibitions, collaborations, and global showcases.
@genart
ABOUT THE NATIONAL HOTEL
Built in 1939, The National Hotel is an iconic Art Deco, adults-only oceanfront hotel in Miami Beach. Known for its landmark architecture, ocean-facing Infinity Pool, and ongoing support of the cultural community, The National continues to serve as a destination for creative engagement and design heritage.
ABOUT ART MIAMI
Established in 1989, Art Miami is one of the most respected and influential contemporary art fairs of Miami Art Week. Known for its prestigious roster of international galleries and museum-level presentations, the fair serves as a premier destination for curators, collectors, and global cultural audiences.
Jenny Chung
Founder & Creative Director, J2 Brand
📧 [email protected]
📞 (201) 621-1355
📸 Instagram: @j2brand.art | @jennynochung
Profile
Jenny Chung is a Korean-American creative director and entrepreneur working at the intersection of contemporary art, branding, hospitality, and cultural programming. Born in Seoul and now based in the United States, she has developed a reputation for shaping visual identities and cultural initiatives with clarity, emotional depth, and cross-cultural vision.
In 2025, Jenny co-founded J2 Brand, a creative enterprise dedicated to advancing Korean contemporary art on the global stage. Through J2 Brand, she leads artist partnerships, curatorial direction, strategic exhibitions, and cultural collaborations—designing platforms where heritage craft, modern expression, and international dialogue converge.
Her mission centers on elevating artistic excellence, expanding cultural presence, and fostering bridges between Korea’s rich creative legacy and contemporary global audiences.
