Lee Bul in her studio. Photo by Yoon Hyungmoon. Courtesy of Studio Lee Bul.The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), one of the world’s top five art museums, will showcase installations by the renowned Korean artist Lee Bul on its prominent facade, starting in September next year.
The museum annually adorns the exterior of its building with installation works by global artists and on the 29th, the Met announced a list of three artists collaborating on projects for the upcoming year. Lee Bul from South Korea will transform the facade, Petrit Halilaj from Kosovo will work on the Roof Garden, and Tong Yang-Tze will handle the Great Hall with calligraphy.
The Met disclosed that from September next year until May 2025, Lee Bul’s four sculptural pieces will be displayed on the exterior of the building. The museum commended Lee Bul as a leading contemporary Korean artist for over 40 years, recognized for integrating creative technological innovation and technical expertise into her works. She expresses themes of beauty, desire, and decay through various mediums, including drawing, sculpture, painting, installation, and video art.
While the Met has previously exhibited Korean artworks within the museum, this marks the first occasion a Korean artist’s work will be displayed outside the museum. Lee Bul’s selection is based on her reputation as a globally acclaimed contemporary Korean artist. With Lee Bul’s work gracing the facade of a museum that attracts over seven million visitors annually, the attention to Korean art in the U.S. is expected to increase.
Currently, the Met is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Korean Art Gallery with a special exhibition titled Lineages: Korean Art at The Met.
