Wonsuk Kim

Wonsuk Kim (b. 1953) paints unguarded, diary-like confessional works — every painting a self-portrait — that critics describe as personal life stories rendered with such warmth they resonate universally. She was named a "Woman Artist of the USA" in 1978 and in 1995 became the first Korean selected as UN "Sponsor Artist of the Year." She studied Western painting at Hongik University and earned her BFA and MFA at the University of Illinois, where she studied during the era of Mark Rothko's influence but insisted on developing her own distinct style.