Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kiya Kim. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kiya , so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
It is deeply tied to the life I have lived, a reflection of the inner density and self-reflection I have cultivated as both a human being and an artist. Particularly from an artist’s perspective, it is the accumulation of time spent refining myself, stripping away excess, and replenishing with richness each day. This process becomes who I am and the essence of my art. It forms a steadfast root and a solid framework for my life. What could inspire greater confidence than this? It is a truth as natural as it is profound. The density that has been endured and forged in unseen places does not easily waver—just as the sea is never soaked by rain.
The core of my inner being has always been prayer. I tend to experience this world by dialogues with God in every moment. Within the grand framework of the human cycle of birth and death, what I should pursue and build has already been determined. Even the impossible things has always been possible with God. The confidence that radiates outwardly from me finds its source in my inner communion with God.
To cultivate these inner fruits, one must take on the mindset of a marathoner—adjusting one’s breath, inspecting one’s gear, and observing the climate. It requires a constant attitude of introspection and questioning in search of answers, while at times focusing solely on the silent act of creation. These elements harmonize organically, producing balance and generating tangible results. This is why I cannot separate life and art; they are intrinsically and inseparably intertwined.
Ultimately, all of these elements instill in me the confidence to face the world and become the foundation of my composure in any encounter with others.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I enjoy drying my body and thoughts in the morning like plants, the most precious time of the day. I capture the flickering of light and shadow, layering it with my wavering inner monologues. From this process, I carefully filter the sensations perceived by my creative circuits to generate works. I cherish the time spent reading books, and the act of writing—translating and editing my thoughts—is when I feel the most enriched. I am someone who thrives in moments of stillness rather than dynamic activity. The world that steadily unfolds within me is truly infinite, and it represents the one form of repetition I never tire of.
From an early age, painting was more instinctive to me than eating, and apart from a suggestion from a middle school teacher to explore writing, my path seemed inexorably tied to art. I delighted in subscribing to fashion magazines as a child, emulating the outfits of the models I admired. This naturally shaped the framework of my creative expression today.
My work delves into the expansive spectrum of language, expressed through diverse media and methodologies. Common words and text, though fundamental, are finite tools for communication. Beyond them lies a myriad of unspoken languages—gestures, attire, colors, laughter, nuances, even silence—all of which I consider integral to the lexicon of human expression. My aim is to articulate ideas that transcend the visible and immediate, reaching into dimensions far richer and more profound.
This pursuit stems from my curiosity about the unseen and intangible realms of emotion—an inquiry that aligns with my broader efforts to understand myself and the human experience.
I received my early artistic education at high school of arts in Korea and majored in fine arts during university. Upon moving to New York, I studied fashion styling at FIT and earned an interdisciplinary art master’s degree at SVA. In 2008 I relocated from Seoul to New York, where I have continued to cultivate my artistic practice, holding numerous solo exhibitions in galleries and museums. I have also engaged in collaborations with corporations, with one of the most intriguing experiences being a recent project creating bespoke products in partnership with the Leeum Museum of Art under the Samsung Foundation.
I aspire for my journey to remain resilient and steadily evolve, enabling me to share my artistic vision with a broader audience. My ultimate dream is to continue creating and exhibiting my work even in old age. While this may seem modest, every artist would understand the profound challenges inherent in such an enduring path.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I believe that building unwavering roots and a solid framework is of utmost importance. Life is neither entirely easy nor excessively difficult, neither excessively short nor endlessly long—it is a journey woven together within the fabric of time, composed of countless meanings, events, experiences, people, strange emotions, and phenomena. Life, as we know it, exists within the boundaries of birth and death, choices that are beyond our control.
In the face of this overarching premise of existence, I would urge everyone to remain humble. Never cease to question the essence of human origins as part of the Creator’s work. This inquiry, I believe, transcends the realm of art and applies universally.
In any field, the achievements we attain come with responsibility. I would advise others never to fear the backstage labor that supports those accomplishments. Failure and setbacks are not just obstacles—they are essential components of the learning process. It is only by navigating through them that one can develop the inner resilience and strength necessary for growth.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I hope to meet various curator friends who can deeply understand my world. When I share time with them, I discover aspects of myself that I didn’t know existed and learn anew from their perspectives, allowing me to further develop my artistic universe. If an artist has invested long, arduous hours in shaping their work with utmost dedication, collaboration with curators who can connect that work to the outside world becomes essential. Moreover, one of the most vulnerable aspects of an artist’s existence is communication with the larger society. The language at that intersection differs significantly from the systems used for efficient communication among the general public.
The language of artists is not something universally recognized or easily understood within any society. It is highly personal and, at times, may even exist in a realm beyond communication. For this reason, not only I but also many other artists require someone who can serve as a bridge in that space. Furthermore, I am always open to collaborations with galleries, museums, or brands that can deeply understand my artistic philosophy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kiyakim.me
- Instagram: @kiyakim_artworks
Image Credits
kiya kim
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
