Top News Picks - K-ARTNOW
Top News Picks
Delivering essential Korean contemporary art news every week.

Latest News

Museum_News Leeum Museum of Art Announces Its 2025 Major Exhibition Plans The Samsung Foundation of Culture, celebrating its 60th anniversary next year, has unveiled the exhibition plans for the Leeum Museum of Art in 2025, encompassing both traditional and contemporary art.
2024.12.17
Art+_News Most Influential Koreans in the Art World This Year: ArtReview ‘2024 Power 100’ On the 5th, the renowned British art magazine ArtReview unveiled its ‘2024 Power 100’ list. Since 2002, the annual ‘Power 100’ has involved experts from around the globe in an in-depth and comprehensive evaluation to select 100 individuals who have made significant contributions to the global art and cultural scene through their activities and influence.
2024.12.17
Art never stopped a war and never got anybody a job. That was never its function. Art cannot change events, but it can change people. It can affect people so that they are changed.

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990, Musician)

Artist

Artist_News Artist Chung Hyun Named One of the ‘Editor’s Picks’ at Art Basel Miami Beach 2024 Chung Hyun, an artist represented by PKM Gallery, was featured on the Editor’s Picks list for Art Basel Miami Beach 2024, held from December 4 to 8.
2024.12.17
Artist_News Artist Chung Seoyoung Participated in Asia Pacific Triennial 11 One of South Korea’s leading contemporary sculptors, Chung Seoyoung, is participating in the 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT11). Held at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) in Brisbane, Australia, APT11 has been underway since November 30 and features 70 artists and collectives from more than 30 countries.
2024.12.10
Artist_News Artist Keem Jiyoung Is Holding Her First Overseas Solo Exhibition, “Breath of the Month” at PHILIPPZOLLINGER The first overseas solo exhibition of Korean artist Keem Jiyoung (b. 1987), “Breath of the Month”, is holding at the PHILIPPZOLLINGER in Zürich, Switzerland, until January 18 next year.
2024.12.03
Artist_News Artist Seulgi Lee Presents Her Performance Work at the 17th Lyon Biennale Seulgi Lee is participating in the 17th Lyon Biennale, “Les voix des fleuves, Crossing the Water,” where she will present her performance SOUPE (2024) on November 8 and December 13, 2024.
2024.11.26
Artist_News Artist Moka Lee Has Been Selected as One of the 10 Artists of “The Artsy Vanguard 2025” The global online art platform Artsy has selected artist Moka Lee as one of the "Artsy Vanguard 2025" artists, highlighting the most promising talents working today. Among the 10 artists chosen this year, Moka Lee is the only Korean artist featured.
2024.11.12
Artist_News Lee Bul’s New Sculpture ‘Long Tail Halo’ Installed on the Facade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Four new sculptures from Long Tail Halo, a series by renowned Korean artist Lee Bul, have been installed on the facade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) in New York.
2024.11.12

Museum

Museum_News Leeum Museum of Art Announces Its 2025 Major Exhibition Plans The Samsung Foundation of Culture, celebrating its 60th anniversary next year, has unveiled the exhibition plans for the Leeum Museum of Art in 2025, encompassing both traditional and contemporary art.
2024.12.17
Museum_News Art Sonje Center Announces Its 2025 Exhibition and Program Plans Art Sonje Center unveiled its 2025 exhibition program during a press conference held on December 2. The 2025 program spans a wide range of media and genres, from live contemporary music performances to large-scale installations that use the museum building and its surroundings as artistic media.
2024.12.10
Museum_News Set to Open in 2025, What Would the ‘Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul’ Look Like? The design concept of ‘Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul,’ the Seoul branch of France's world-renowned contemporary art institution Centre Pompidou set to open next October, has been unveiled.
2024.11.26
Museum_News Leeum Museum of Art Launches ‘Leeum Archive,’ Unveiling Significant Materials Related to Korean Modern and Contemporary Art On October 21, the Leeum Museum of Art opened the ‘Leeum Archive’ service, a collection of previously unreleased materials related to modern and contemporary Korean art.
2024.10.29
Museum_News MMCA Announces a New Partnership with LG Electronics The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) announces a new partnership with LG Electronics. This collaboration aims to advance the development of contemporary art and other arts and cultural initiatives across Korea. Under this agreement, LG Electronics will exclusively provide exhibition sponsorship and technical support for the ‘MMCA X LG OLED’ Series over the next three years.
2024.08.20
Museum_News Seoul Museum of Photography Pre-opening Program, “Photo SeMA Spotlight 1: A Place for Photography”, to Be Held on September 3 The Seoul Museum of Art will host an international seminar, “Photo SeMA Spotlight 1: A Place for Photography”, in advance of the opening of the Photography Seoul Museum of Art (Photo SeMA; 70, Madeul-ro 13-gil, Dobong-gu, Seoul, in the first half of 2025). The seminar, which will take place on September 3 at the Buk-Seoul Museum of Art, will commemorate the establishment of Photo SeMA, Korea’s first public photography museum, and also serve as a place to share the visions of international photography institutions in Europe and Asia, along with their programs for contemporary photographers.
2024.08.20

Nonprofit

Nonprofit_News SONGEUN Art and Cultural Foundation Unveils SONGEUN’s Exhibition Line-up of 2024 SONGEUN Art and Cultural Foundation has announced the line-up of SONGEUN’s upcoming exhibitions for 2024. The first exhibition in 2024 will be “Cadenza,” a solo exhibition by artist Youngjoo Cho, winner of the 20th SONGEUN Art Award, in March.
2024.02.12
Nonprofit_News Antony Gormley Installs Large-scale Artwork on Bigeum Island, Sinan County Sinan County, Jeollanam-do Province, announced that it has invited world-renowned British sculptor Antony Gormley to install a large-scale artwork on Bigeum Island as part of the Art Island Project.
2024.01.22
Nonprofit_News Hyundai·Kia’s Art-Tech Creative Talent Platform, ZER01NE 2024 Creator Open Call ZER01NE, a creative talent platform sponsored by Hyundai Motor Group, has announced its 2024 call for creators.
2024.01.15
Nonprofit_News "2023 Chilgok International Transmedia Festival" on View Through November 5, 2023, at Yetae Art Museum & Hyangsa Art Center The “2023 Chilgok International Transmedia Festival,” a festival featuring 18 artists, including Kim Shinwook, Kim Taedong, Mioon, and Tom Bull, will hold its first edition from October 6 to November 5. The festival is centered on the theme exhibition The Poetry of Land will be held at the Yetae Art Museum and Hyangsa Art Center. The festival also consists of special exhibitions and side events held around Chilgok, including the Chilgok Patriots & Peace Memorial and Honey Bee World.
2023.10.25
Nonprofit_News "2023 Chilgok International Transmedia Festival" on View Through November 5, 2023, at Yetae Art Museum & Hyangsa Art Center The “2023 Chilgok International Transmedia Festival,” a festival featuring 18 artists, including Kim Shinwook, Kim Taedong, Mioon, and Tom Bull, will hold its first edition from October 6 to November 5. The festival is centered on the theme exhibition The Poetry of Land will be held at the Yetae Art Museum and Hyangsa Art Center. The festival also consists of special exhibitions and side events held around Chilgok, including the Chilgok Patriots & Peace Memorial and Honey Bee World.
2023.10.25
Nonprofit_News Navigating the World of Art Contracts: Five Days of Insightful Training The South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, in partnership with the Korea Arts and Culture Foundation, is conducting a five-day online education program titled “Starting Arts Contracts Right!” from the 16th to the 20th of this month. This program endeavors to foster a fair contract culture within the arts sector and safeguard artists’ rights. The program offers both basic and advanced courses and encompasses subjects such as foundational insights into art contracts, current contract trends in diverse artistic domains, contract categorizations, and the utilization and drafting of standard contracts.
2023.10.09

Biennale

Biennale_News The 13th Seoul Mediacity Biennale Will Announce Exhibition Theme Through Pre-Biennale Program “Notes for a Séance” The Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) will host a pre-biennale program titled "Notes for a Séance” on November 30 at SeMA Hall, introducing the curatorial direction and concept of the 13th Seoul Mediacity Biennale.
2024.11.26
Biennale_News 2024 Daejeon Art and Science Biennale Spin Off “Magnum Opus” on View Through February 2, 2025 Marking its fourth edition, the Daejeon Art and Science Biennale opened on October 25 under the title “Magnum Opus” As the only biennale in Korea dedicated to the theme of science and art, it will run until February 2 of next year at the Daejeon Museum of Art, Daejeon Creative Center, from the corner (Jeong-dong, Dong-gu), and GONGGAN55 (Seonhwa-dong, Jung-gu).
2024.11.12
Biennale_News Anton Vidokle, Hallie Ayres, and Lukas Brasiskis Appointed as the Artistic Directors of the 13th Seoul Mediacity Biennale On October 14, the Seoul Museum of Art announced the appointment of Anton Vidokle, Hallie Ayres, and Lukas Brasiskis as the artistic directors for the 13th Seoul Mediacity Biennale, scheduled for August 2025.
2024.10.22
Biennale_News Gangwon International Triennale 2024 “Ecological Art from the Beneath”, on View Through October 27 The Gangwon International Triennale 2024, hosted by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and organized by the Gangwon Art & Cultural Foundation and Pyeongchang County, opened on September 26 and will run until October 27 across various locations in Pyeongchang County.
2024.10.08
Biennale_News The 7th Changwon Sculpture Biennale’s Various Programs Are Unveiled Starting on September 28, the symposium program “Seed and Peel” will be held at the Small Theater of Seongsan Art Hall. The symposium is scheduled for September 28 from 10 am to 4 pm and on September 29 from 1 pm to 4 pm, with simultaneous English translation available.
2024.09.24
Biennale_News The 7th Changwon Sculpture Biennale’s Pre-Exhibition Programs Successfully Concludes Since last July, the pre-exhibition programs for the Changwon Sculpture Biennale have been underway. The first citizen-participation program, “AVP X Muhayu” (July 15-18), took place at Audio Visual Pavilion (AVP) in Seoul and Muhayu in Changwon, featuring Jeuno JE Kim & Ewa Einhorn, who are based in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Malmö, Sweden, and Sooncheon No, an artist based in Changwon.
2024.09.24

Art Market

Art Market_News The Korean Art Auction Market in the 3rd Quarter of 2024 Saw 26% Decrease Compared to the Previous Year The "2024 3rd Quarter Art Market Report," released on October 31 by the Korea Art Authentication & Appraisal Research Center's corporate research lab KAAI, indicated that the slump in the Korean art market continues.
2024.11.19
Art Market_News South Korea’s MCST Plans to Implement Art Policies for the Continued Growth of the Korean Art Market, Which Exceeded 1 Trillion KRW in 2022 Over the past year, many local experts predicted that the size of the Korean art market would surpass 1 trillion KRW (Korean won) in 2022. This speculation has turned out to be true, as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS) announced on January 4, 2023, that the size of the art market in 2022 was estimated to be 1.0377 trillion KRW (approximately $1 billion USD).
2023.01.09
Art Market_News "Korea Art Market 2022" Delivers Various Trends and Issues in the Korean Art Market in English The most-searched term in the Korean art world in 2022 was “Frieze Seoul.” The inaugural fair received not only explosive attention from the domestic art world but also aroused international interest in the Korean art market, bringing many global artists to Korea.
2023.01.02
Art Market_News Korean Arts Management Services Estimates the Size of the Korean Art Market in 2021 The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea (MCST) and the Korean Arts Management Services (KAMS) have been publishing a report on the previous year’s Korean art market since 2008.
2022.02.21

Auction

Auction_News Seoul Auction to Host ‘Connect Seoul 2024’ During Frieze·Kiaf Seoul Week Seoul Auctions hosts ‘Connect Seoul 2024,’ a series of exhibitions and events from August 24 to September 13 at its Gangnam Center, to coincide with Frieze-Kiaf Seoul Week. Connect Seoul consists of two special exhibitions highlighting major Korean and international artists of modern and contemporary art, a group exhibition of media art, and a preview of upcoming auctions.
2024.09.03
Auction_News SBI Art Auction to Host Its First Overseas Auction Preview at Art Chosun Space in Seoul Japan’s SBI Art Auction will present its first overseas auction preview, "Early Highlight Viewing in Seoul," from October 1 to 6 at Art Chosun Space (ACS) in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. The preview is part of the "68th SBI Art Auction | MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART" to be held on October 25 and 26.
2024.08.13
Auction_News Global Auction House Phillips Appoints Lim Yeon-ah to Lead the Korean office On the 5th, Phillips, one of the world’s top three auction houses, appointed Lim Yeon-ah as the head of its Korean office. Since joining Phillips in 2020, she has overseen Phillips exhibitions during the Frieze Seoul art fair over the past two years.
2023.12.11
Auction_News 3 Korean Women Leaders Who Are Demonstrating Their Leadership at the Asian Offices of the World's Top 3 Art Auction Houses Today, many women figures are active in the contemporary art world, trying to reflect diversity and fostering Korean art.
2022.11.28
Auction_News Phillips Will Hold Its First Exhibition in South Korea during the Frieze Art Fair in Seoul Phillips, one of the three largest auction houses in the world with headquarters in London, has announced that it will hold its first exhibition in Seoul concurrently with the Frieze Seoul and Kiaf Seoul art fairs.
2022.08.15
Auction_News Christie’s First Exhibition in South Korea, What Does This Mean for the Local Art Market? The booming Korean art market attracts many international art galleries and art fairs to Seoul. World-renowned galleries, including König Galerie, Thaddeus Ropac, and Gladstone Gallery, have opened a branch in Seoul, and Frieze has partnered with Kiaf SEOUL to hold art fairs in Seoul for five years from this year.
2022.08.01

Art Fair

Art Fair_News ‘Access Bangkok’, the First Korean Art Fair to Expand Internationally The first Korean art fair to venture overseas, ‘Access Bangkok,’ was held from December 5 to 7 at ICONSIAM in Bangkok, Thailand, garnering significant attention.
2024.12.10
Art Fair_News Director Kim Jeong Eun Appointed to Lead 'T3 PHOTO ASIA’ Art Fair in Tokyo, Japan Kim Jeong Eun has been appointed as the Fair Director of ‘T3 PHOTO AISA’, which will be held at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu in Japan from October 18 to October 21.
2024.10.08
Art Fair_News Highlights at Frieze Seoul 2024 Highlights of Frieze Seoul 2024, taking place September 4-7 at COEX, Gangnam, Seoul, have been revealed. The world's leading galleries participating in Frieze Seoul 2024 are highlighting a wide range of distinguished artists in the Solo, Group, Frieze Masters, and Focus Asia sections.
2024.09.03
Art Fair_News Kiaf SEOUL 2024 to Host Special Exhibition “Kiaf onSITE: Invisible Transitions” The Galleries Association of Korea announced that it will present the special exhibition “Kiaf onSITE: Invisible Transitions” at Kiaf SEOUL 2024, which will be held for five days from September 4 to 8. “Kiaf onSITE” is a special exhibition showcasing the
2024.08.27
Art Fair_News How to Enjoy Frieze Seoul 2024 to the Fullest Frieze Seoul 2024 will not only feature a fair showcasing globally acclaimed artworks but also present the most extensive and diverse Frieze Week to date, featuring a variety of programs including cultural events in collaboration with galleries and nonprofit organizations.
2024.08.27
Art Fair_News Frieze Seoul 2024 to Feature More Than 110 of the World’s Leading Galleries From 30 Countries The third edition of Frieze Seoul takes place at COEX from 4 – 7 September, once again under the direction of Patrick Lee. Featuring more than 110 galleries spanning 30 countries, this year’s fair features a strong core of exhibitors from across Asia,
2024.08.27

Art+

Art+_News Most Influential Koreans in the Art World This Year: ArtReview ‘2024 Power 100’ On the 5th, the renowned British art magazine ArtReview unveiled its ‘2024 Power 100’ list. Since 2002, the annual ‘Power 100’ has involved experts from around the globe in an in-depth and comprehensive evaluation to select 100 individuals who have made significant contributions to the global art and cultural scene through their activities and influence.
2024.12.17
Art+_News “Braiding Sweetgrass,” an Exhibition of Korean and Thai Artists Curated by Independent Curator Nayun Lee, held at Mana Art Gallery in Bangkok The exhibition “Braiding Sweetgrass”, curated by Independent curator Nayun Lee, will be held at Mana Art Gallery in Bangkok from November 22 to December 8. This exhibition provides a space to reflect on and imagine coexistence between humans and non-humans through the works of five artists from Korea and Thailand.
2024.11.19
Art+_News The Book titled “Korean Feminist Artists”, Offering an In-depth Look at the Current State of Feminist Art in Korea, Has Been Published Dr. Kim Hong-Hee, a former director of the Seoul Museum of Art, has published a book titled Korean Feminist Artists: Confront and Deconstruct, which examines the current landscape of feminist art in Korea as of 2024.
2024.10.22
Art+_News The First Case of the Inheritance Tax Payment with Artworks in Korea: Four Artworks Accepted in Lieu On October 7, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) approved the first-ever payment of inheritance tax with four artworks in Korea.
2024.10.15
Art+_News ‘The ISEA 2025,’ a Large-scale Media Arts Festival, to Be Held in Seoul Next May Next May, the International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA) will be held at the Seoul Arts Center.
2024.10.01
Art+_News “Forms of the Shadow”, the First Large-scale Exhibition of Korean Contemporary Art in Vienna, Is Held “Forms of the Shadow”, curated by Sunjung Kim, the Artistic Director of the Art Sonje Center, is on view at the Vienna Secession and the Korean Cultural Centre Austria from September 20 to November 17.
2024.10.01