Artist Biography
Ann J. Kim is a contemporary abstract painter who lives and works in Los Angeles, California. A native of Yeaseoul, South Korea, her tranquil and layered paintings are influenced by her homeland and Southern California's diversity culture. Her distinctive personal style originates from contemplative methods and expresses nature's energetic spirit.
With mystical compositions and bold colors, Ann brings to life local landscapes, environmental issues, and feminist perspectives. She explains, “The first step of my work process is to observe and engage a subject within the theme of humanity's relationship with nature. While I may understand the subject abstractly, I rely on painting to explore my unconscious reflections and to capture the subject's unique identity.”
Ann is receiving an M.F.A. candidate at the California State University Northridge May 2024. She received her B.A. in Painting from CSUN in Spring 2021. Throughout her life, Ann has always been fascinated by images and how the world is represented through others’ perspectives and cultures. Her interest in painting cultivated during her late forties as a conduit for self-expression and has since grown to focus on societal themes of locality, environmental preservation, and feminism.
CV
Born in 1961 in Yeaseoul, South Korea Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA
EDUCATION
2021 – 2024
MFA Painting, Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, Communication, California State University Northridge, Northridge, CA
2019 – 2021
BA Art, Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, Communication, CSUN, Northridge, CA
2015 – 2019
AA Studio Art, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles, CA
AWARDS
Public Art, CSUN Sustainability Center
Planters, living milkweed plants for monarch butterflies, Installed in Native Plants Garden CSUN
Solo Exhibitions
2023
A Journey to the Unknown, CSUN Shed Gallery, Northridge, CA
Group Exhibitions
Memory of My Commute Roads, Installation, President Suite Reception, CSUN
2022
A Summer Journal, CSUN Shed Gallery, Northridge, CA
San Fernando Valley, Creativity Crisis Center, Canoga Park, CA
Locality: From Spaces to Places, Installation, President Suite Reception, CSUN
2021
The Seneca effect: Point of Crisis, Installation, President Suite Reception, CSUN
Pandemic Communication, Installation, President Suite Reception, CSUN
2020
SIPARP: Self-Isolation Pandemic Artist’s Residency Program, Professor Samantha Fields
CSUN Department of Art
Common Ground Response: www.aaaaacc.org, CSUN
EXPERIENCE
Art Director, June 2002-December 2021
Koam Construction, Los Angeles, CA
Served as Art Director for Interior and Exterior Design
Koreatown Senior Center, Los Angeles
Commercial Buildings
Residential Houses
ART Teaching Intern, July 2011 - August 2015
Sungmo Retreat Center, Wrightwood, CA
Developed art teaching information guides for personal use
Served as Director’s Assistant for art class program and workshop
St. Matthew Korean Catholic Church, Tujunga, CA 2003-2013
Served community voluntary works
SKILLS
Proficient with MS Office, Windows, and the Internet
Adaptable skill in InDesign, Photo Shop, and Illustration
Creative and Detail-oriented skills
Drawing and Conceptual development