We’re looking forward to introducing you to Junn Yang . Check out our conversation below.
Junn, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’m most proud of rebuilding my own reality rooted in gratitude and peace, even when the world feels against me. Despite pain, betrayal, and life’s constant challenges, I’ve learned to find moments of joy and calm in the middle of the storm. Happiness isn’t something we wait to find; it’s something we choose to create, again and again. Through rebuilding myself, I’ve learned to see beauty in the rain, strength in uncertainty, and grace in starting over.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a Korean immigrant artist based in San Francisco for over 10 years. Before settling here, I lived across Europe searching for a place where I could feel safe and belong. San Francisco became my second home my first home is Seoul Korea always, but SF is a city that help me grown as both a person and an artist.
I’m a multimedia artist working across painting, fiber art, and ceramics. My practice is rooted in healing and connection. Many of my sculptures can be touched or hugged in multi sensory experience., they resemble my younger self who felt lonely and lost. My soft sculptures act as vessels of memory and empathy, inviting others to connect, reflect, and heal alongside me.
My paintings often depict queer figures resting or dancing in nature unapologetically, free, and alive. The city’s landscape and natural beauty inspire me deeply; I love being in nature because I found the queerness mirrored in nature’s diversity and resilience. Recently, my practice has expanded beyond the studio into community-based projects. I facilitate workshops with all age and type of people can participate, I collaborate with museums and organizations to make art sharable also brining my art outside studio and into public spaces has transformed how I see my purpose as an artist to connect, heal, and build community through creativity.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was a shy, and sensitive kid who didn’t have dreams or role models. I felt lost and scared because I knew I was gay at age five far too young to hide that kind of secret. I quietly hoped that one day I could simply belong, to be accepted as a normal human being.
As a queer young adult, I was bullied and told at school that I was “too feminine” or “too gay”. Even some educators labeled me that way. I grew up believing the world was against me, so I hid my true self behind smiles and silence. I was terrified of rejection, afraid to show who I really am. The shame I carried slowly destroyed my spirit.
Then I began painting in San Francisco, it started as therapy then as a way of searching for meaning. I realized I couldn’t separate my art from my life. That was the moment I began to embrace my queerness, my story, and the collective experiences of others like me. Art became my language of survival. When I was sad, it held me; when I was happy, it expanded me.
Art gave me something I had never known before- a sense of power, purpose, and self. Through creating, I learned that being different isn’t something to hide; it’s something to honor. My work now celebrates authenticity and connection. When I share it with my community, especially LGBTQ+ and immigrants, it opens space for healing and belonging.
That’s what art means to me: transforming shame into strength, and remembering that it’s never too late to begin again.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Last year, I almost gave up. I went more than six months without a single sale. My savings were gone, and I seriously considered leaving San Francisco maybe going back to Korea to start a small business, anything that felt more stable. It was terrifying to admit I was struggling.
Then, out of desperation, my studio mate started a GoFundMe for me. I felt deep shame at first for being open about my financial situation. But what happened next changed everything. Strangers from across the country. A person from New York I’d never even met sent me kind messages, checks, and support. Other artists and friends reached out, too. Their generosity helped me attend an artist residency in Mexico City, cover rent, and continue creating.
During that time, I began experimenting with clay and textiles, which led to a new body of work and a solo exhibition that shifted the course of my career.
That experience taught me that vulnerability is not weakness, it’s courage. It reminded me to trust life and keep believing in my path, even when it feels impossible. Every time I doubt myself now, I remember that I’ve already survived worse, and that giving up would mean turning away from the very thing that saved me: my art.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the art world tells itself is that success can only come through institutional validation that you need degrees, gallery representation, or certain connections to be considered “serious.” I respect artists who are academically trained and brilliant in their craft, but chasing approval from a select group of people or institutions can be dangerous.
This mindset often limits creativity and diversity. It teaches artists to frame their work according to what the market or critics expect, instead of trusting their intuition. True creativity doesn’t come from hierarchy. It comes from play, experimentation, and honesty. When we stop trying to prove our worth to others and start creating from our authentic selves, that’s when art becomes powerful. The real measure of art isn’t prestige. it’s connection, truth, and courage.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I kept creating until my very last breath — that even in my hospital bed, I was still painting, still dreaming. I want them to remember that I started later in life, with physical limitations, dyslexia, and moments of deep doubt, but I never gave up.
I wasn’t the most talented or the most educated, but I was brave enough to live fully and honestly through my art. I want my story to remind others that it’s never too late to begin again — that even when life feels impossible, there’s still beauty to make, love to give, and something worth fighting for.
If my journey can help someone else find their voice or their own way to heal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.junyangart.com
- Instagram: @junyarts
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/junyarts?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
Image Credits
photo by artist (Jun yang)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
