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Myung Urso
- ARTWORKS
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- BIOGRAPHY
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Myung Urso was born and raised in South Korea. She has lived in Upstate New York, USA, since 2006. She currently works as a contemporary painter and a sculptor. Myung’s art has been cultivated through her lifelong practice in Korean calligraphy and enhanced by the skills she developed through her graduate studies in fiber art. From an early age, her extensive exploration in mixed media art forms has played an important role in her creative journey. Most recently, she has worked with simple compositions in a reductive and minimalist approach, using primarily raw natural fabric, with various color materials such as ink, acrylic paint, pigment, and liquid dye.
"Observing the evolution within my personal imagination as to how it develops into an artwork is the most intriguing of experiences. Pursuing an idea without preliminary sketches leads to an instinctive way of tracing unexpected results. Most often, the working process I adapt is more open toward spontaneity and intuition, rather than manipulated by a pre-set plan. Exploring and perceiving the present moment often leads me in unpredictable directions. I give the different compositional and material elements the freedom to interact in unpremeditated ways, helping to define the destiny of each work.
My art works take root from my lifelong practice in Korean calligraphy. This art form originates from the power of a strong, yet spontaneous brush stroke. Through dedicating myself to the practice of Korean calligraphy for many years, I have been able to gain a means to express freely what inspires me.
My visual language is derived from simple lines and forms found in nature, the sun, the moon, the earth, and the human body. I consciously and unconsciously consider the spatial effects within a composition to capture a meditative space within each work. My recent minimalistic works are both symbolic and metaphoric, a personal interpretation of the scenic landscape as visual poetry."
Myung Urso
Before Myung navigated the direction of her artistic expression to contemporary fine art, she worked as a contemporary art jewelry artist for more than 15 years. During this period, she actively participated in numerous group exhibitions, and had eight solo exhibitions in the USA, China, and Europe. Her sculptural and painterly jewelry works have been collected by several art museums in the United States, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Museum of Art & Design in New York, the Dallas Museum of Art, and Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Myung’s academic studies include a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in Fiber Arts from Hongik University, Seoul, Korea, and a master’s in Museum & Gallery Management from the City University in London, United Kingdom. Her earlier professional career included positions as a Gallery director/curator for Hand & Mind Gallery, a senior reporter for ‘Monthly Craft & Design’ magazine, and as an adjunct lecturer at several universities in Seoul, Korea.
EDUCATIONS
1995
MA degree, Museum & Gallery Management, the City University, London, UK
1986
MA degree, Fiber Arts, Hongik University, Seoul, Korea
1982
BA degree, Biology, Hannam University, Daejeon, Korea
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022
‘Nexus’, Galeria Reverso, Lisbon, Portugal
2021
‘Portraits of Now’, Jewelers’ Werk Galerie, Washington, DC
2017
MYUNG URSO 'TRANS-FORM: Work from a decade and now', Velvet da Vinci Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2016
'Myung Urso : Shaping Memories', Pistachios Gallery, Chicago, IL
2013
'Myung Urso - Touch', MK Gallery, Vienna, VA
2012
'Myung Urso - Brush & Line', Patina Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
'Myung Urso - Signature', Velvet da Vinci, San Francisco, CA
2011
'Myung Urso - Voices', Geisel Gallery, Bausch & Lomb World Headquarter, Rochester, NY
GROUP EXHIBITIONS & ACTIVITIES
2023
Studio Program, Berlin Art Institute, Berlin, Germany
2022
‘Tangible Objects’, Main Street Arts, Clifton Spring, NY
‘Faces – Gesichter’, Galerie Handwerk, Munich, Germany
2021
‘Small Works’, Main Street Arts, Clifton Spring, NY
‘No Attachment’, Papierwerk Glockenbach, Munich, Germany
‘Form & Function’, Pistachios Gallery, Chicago, IL
'The Palace of Shattered Vessels : Chinese Porcelain and Contemporary Jewelry', Froots Gallery, Shanghai, China
2020
"Growth & Evolution International Jewellery Exhibition", Beijing Jewelry Week, Beijing, China
2019
'Small Works', Main Street Gallery, Clifton Spring, NY
'Bling: Jewelry Invitational', Blue Spiral Gallery, Ashville, NC
'Artists Affair', Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY
'Form & Concept: six years of Smitten', Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM
'Beyond Ornamental', Main Street Gallery, Clifton Spring, NY
'The palace of shattered vessels: Chinese Porcelain and Contemporary Jewelry', Froot Gallery, Frame 2019, Handwerk & Design, Munich Exhibition Center, Munich Jewelry Week, Munich, Germany
'Alight 2019', The Visual Art Scotland, The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK.
Smitten Forum, Mendocino Art Center, CA
2018
Adorning Boston and Beyond: Contemporary Studio Jewelry Then + Now, Society of Arts & Crafts, Boston, MA
Philadelphia Museum Art & Craft Show, Philadelphia, PA
Wear, Penland Gallery, Penland, NC
CraftBoston Spring, Boston, MA
2017
Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington, DC
'Power of Pearl', Taboo Studio, San Diego, CA
2016
Philadelphia Museum Art & Craft Show, Philadelphia, PA
Joya 2016, Barcelona, Spain
'This is Brooch', Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design, St. Louise
Fiber Art Biennale, Snyderman Works Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2015
'Sparkle', Taboo Studio, San Diego, CA
Philadelphia Museum Art & Craft Show, Philadelphia, PA
CODA Paper Art 2015, CODA Museum, Apeldoorn, Netherland
Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington, DC
Bijoux 2015, Norton Museum, FL
The Outer Limits, Facere Gallery, Seattle, WA
2014
Out of the Blue, Taboo Gallery, San Diago, CA
Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington, DC
Rule the World, Friends of Carlotta, Zurich, Switzerland
Precious-Semi Precious, Lacoste Gallery, Concord, MA
2013
Expoxicao De Natal, Galeria Tereza Seabra, Lisbon, Portugal
Precious and Semi-Precious, Lacoste Gallery, Concord, MA
SOFA Chicago 2013, Charon Kransen Art(New York); Pistachios Gallery(Chicago)
Art in Craft Media, the Burchfield Penney Art Center, Buffalo, NY
Two Persons show ‘Point of View’, Taboo Gallery, San Diego, CA
Put a Ring on It, Taboo Gallery, San Diego, CA
2012
SOFA Chicago, Pistachios; Snyderman-Works Gallery, Chicago, IL
Philadelphia Museum & Craft show, Philadelphia, PA
'Sign of Life', Facere Jewelry Art Gallery, Seattle, WA
ACC San Francisco show, San Francisco, CA
SOFA New York, Snydeman-Works Gallery, New York, NY
'Tea Pot - 6th Invitational Exhibitions, Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
International Fiber Art Biennale, Snyderman-Works Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2011
From Minimal to Bling, the Society of Arts & Crafts, Boston, MA
Washington Craft Show, Washigton, DC
Philadelphia Museum Art & Craft show, Philadelphia, PA
SOFA Chicago, Charon Kransen Arts, New York, NY & Pistachios, Chicago, IL
M & T Bank Clothesline Art Festival, Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY – 'Merit Award'
San Francisco Craft show, San Francisco, CA
SOFA Santa Fe, Charon Kransen Arts, Santa Fe, NM
SOFA New York, Charon Kransen Arts, New York, NY
The Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington DC
'Teapots! 5th Invitational' Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
'Indulge', Bellevue Museum of Art, Seattle, WA
2010
Washington Craft Show, Washington DC – Awarded 'Collectors Award'
SOFA Chicago, Charon Kransen Arts & Pistachios, Chicago, IL
The Philadelphia Museum Craft Show, Philadelphia, PA
'Asian Influences', Snyderman-Works Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
SOFA Santa Fe, Charon Kransen Arts, Santa Fe, NM
Summer show, Blue Heron Gallery, Deer Isle, ME
'New Artists for the New Decade', Patina Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
SOFA New York, Charon Kransen Arts, New York, NY
Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington, DC - Awarded 'New Direction – Excellence in Design of the Future''
2009
SOFA New York, New York, Aaron Faber Gallery, New York, NY
'Wichita National All Media Craft Exhibition 2009', Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita, KS
'Craft Forms 2009', 15th International Juried exhibition of Contemporary Craft, Wayne Art Center, PA
'Cut, Fold & Stitch - Metal/Paper', Aaron Faber Gallery, New York, NY
2008
The Philadelphia Museum Craft Show, Philadelphia, PA
American Craft Exposition, Evanston, Chicago, IL – Awarded 'Honorable Mention'
2007
'From Minimal to Bling: Contemporary Studio Jewelry', The Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA
AWARDS
2020
Artist of the Year
by KCSB, Korean Cultural Society of Boston, Lexington, MA
2018
“Best in Show’, CraftBoston, Boston, MA
2016
‘Excellence in Fiber’, Philadelphia Museum Arts & Crafts Show, Philadelphia, PA
2014
‘Excellence in Jewelry’, Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington, DC
2012/2011
‘Award of Excellence’, CraftBoston, Boston, MA -
2011/2010
'Merit Award', M & T Bank Clothesline Art Festival, Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY
2011
'Award of Excellence', American Craft Council, Baltimore Craft Show, Baltimore, MD
2010
‘Award of "New Direction - Excellence in Design of the Future’, Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington, DC
'Collectors Award', Washington Craft Show, Washington DC
MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
The Museum of Fine Art Boston, The Museum of Art & Design, New York, The Dalla Museum of Art, The Los Angeles County of Museum of Art
Work Experiences
2006 - 1998
Director/Curator, Hand and Mind Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2006 - 1997
Lecturer - Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Kookmin University, Sookmyung University, Duksung University, Seoul, Korea
1997 - 1995
Asian Arts Consultant, British Council Headquarter, Visiting Arts, London, UK
1993 - 1988
Senior Reporter, ‘Monthly Craft & Design’ magazine (Design-House Ltd.), Seoul, Korea
PUBLICATIONS
2018
'Dual Harmony: Myung Urso', Written by Katja Toporski, Metalsmith, Society of North American Goldsmiths, Vol. 38. NO.3, 2018
2017
Artistry in Fiber, Vol.3: Wearable Art, by Anne Lee, E. Ashley Rooney, Susan Taber Avila, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2017, USA
2016
'Bijou Textile: Fiber in Contemporary Art Jewelry', by Elena Rosenberg, Surface Design, Summer 2016, USA
2014
SOFA Chicago catalogue
2013
Showcase 500 Art Necklaces, Lark Books, USA
2011
'500 Rings', Lark Books, USA
'Paper Jewellry', Sarah Kelly, A & C Black, London, UK
'Slow Germination, Sudden Blossoming', American Craft Magazine, May/June USA
'Jewelry Artist Myung Urso Creates Simple, Asian-inspired Pieces', Her Rochester-Democratic & Chronicles, by Stephanie Veale, Rochester NY
2009
'Jewellery Using Textile Techniques', A & C Black Publishers, London, UK
SOFA New York 2009 Catalogue
2008
'Stitched Jewels', Lark Books, USA
'Forging a Reputation', Democratic & Chronicles, News Paper, Rochester, NY
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