"Before Sunrise" Painting

Born in Korea and raised in the United States from high school age, I spent nearly a decade immersed in American culture before returning to Korea to complete my military service. Afterward, I pursued my passion for design and art by studying Transportation Design at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. I later returned to Korea to focus on both family and creative work, eventually transitioning into the arts full-time.

Today, I operate an art studio where I guide aspiring design students in building their portfolios, while continuing to develop my personal body of work. My artistic practice focuses on vibrant, emotionally driven acrylic paintings. My main series captures fruit splashing into water—each piece symbolizing a dream being realized. For me, the moment of impact between fruit and water is a metaphor for transformation, struggle, and hope.

The banana, for example, holds special meaning as a symbol of the Asian American experience—navigating identity, facing racial challenges, and ultimately pursuing dreams despite adversity.

In addition to the fruit series, I also paint Disney characters, colorful varieties of daisies, and automotive imagery—each genre reflecting a different facet of my personal narrative and visual exploration.