Sei Ryun Chun
Sei Ryun Chun is a Korean-born multidisciplinary artist based in New York. Her practice encompasses painting, installation, sculpture, performance, and mixed media, exploring themes of interconnectedness, memory, spirituality, and the relationship between humanity and nature.
Chun received her B.F.A. in Fine Arts from Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea. After moving to the United States in 1981, she expanded her artistic practice while teaching printmaking and visual arts. She has presented numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and internationally, including participation in major art fairs such as the Miami Art Fair and the San Francisco Fine Art Fair.
Working with tea-dyed paper, recycled hanbok textiles, thread, silk, ink, and natural materials, Chun transforms traditional Korean cultural elements into contemporary installations. Her work is inspired by Korean tea culture, Buddhist philosophy, and the symbolism of the circle as a universal form representing continuity, balance, and the cycle of life.
In addition to her visual art practice, Chun is a practitioner of the traditional Korean tea ceremony, integrating ritual, mindfulness, and cultural heritage into her performances and installations. Through light, shadow, and suspended forms, she creates immersive environments that invite contemplation and reflection.
Chun is the founder of Oms Art Gallery and has organized numerous exhibitions and cultural exchange programs. She is the recipient of the AHL Foundation Artist Award. Her works are held in private collections in the United States, Korea, and internationally.
She lives and works in New York.
Chun received her B.F.A. in Fine Arts from Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea. After moving to the United States in 1981, she expanded her artistic practice while teaching printmaking and visual arts. She has presented numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and internationally, including participation in major art fairs such as the Miami Art Fair and the San Francisco Fine Art Fair.
Working with tea-dyed paper, recycled hanbok textiles, thread, silk, ink, and natural materials, Chun transforms traditional Korean cultural elements into contemporary installations. Her work is inspired by Korean tea culture, Buddhist philosophy, and the symbolism of the circle as a universal form representing continuity, balance, and the cycle of life.
In addition to her visual art practice, Chun is a practitioner of the traditional Korean tea ceremony, integrating ritual, mindfulness, and cultural heritage into her performances and installations. Through light, shadow, and suspended forms, she creates immersive environments that invite contemplation and reflection.
Chun is the founder of Oms Art Gallery and has organized numerous exhibitions and cultural exchange programs. She is the recipient of the AHL Foundation Artist Award. Her works are held in private collections in the United States, Korea, and internationally.
She lives and works in New York.
CV
Education
1990 MFA Studied at New York University - Printmaking
1986 Art Center of Northern New Jersey - Printmaking
1975 BFA Kun-Kook University - Art & Design
Teaching Experiences
2000 ~ Korean Tradition Tea Demonstration Seminar
Solo Exhibitions
2025 Zen Art White Forest Gallery NY
2024 Octagon, Bona Gallery, Daegu, Korea
2022 Without Beginning Without End, Gamrosa, AZ
2021 CAMINO, Gala Art Center, NY
2021 Catskills Story (Without Beginning Without End), KCC Gallery, NJ
2020 Catskills Story, Davin Fine Art Gallery, NY
2019 OMNE, MK Gallery, VA, Washington D.C.
2018 Ubiquitous, City of Brockton Public Library, MA
2018 Rounded, Islip Art Museum, NY
2017 Art is Filling, Berlin, Germany
2017 Eternal, Bank of Hope, New York, NY
2017 Ubiquitous, Seward Park Library, New York, NY
2016 Ubiquitous, Suwon Art Center, Seoul, Korea
2016 Mutation, Piermont Public Library Gallery, NY
2015 Ubiquitous, Bergen Performing Art Center, NJ
2014 Milky Way, Sesimje Gallery, Jeju, Korea
2013 Fragrance of Tea, Gallery of Korean Cultural Center, Washington DC
2012 Meditation, Oms Art Gallery, Fort Lee, NJ
2011 OM, Long Island University Hutchins Gallery, NY
2010 The Sylvia Wald and Po Kim Gallery, NY
2010 Hommage Soo Keun, Chelsea West Gallery, New York, NY
2003 Bank Asiana Gallery Oms Public Art, NY
2001 Beautiful Organization Exhibition, Seoul, Korea
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025 Gala Art Center - New York, USA
2024 69th Exhibition of Creative Art Association, Seoul Art Center Korean, Seoul, Korea
2022 Open Spring Festival & Zen Art Show, Baklimsa Catskill Zendo, New York, USA
2019 NY 2 Seoul, La:ppland, Seoul, Korea
2018 Parthibition, Space Ciel Gallery- Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, USA
2017 Celebrating Small, Darvin Fine Art Gallery- Piermont, New York, USA
2017 Envisioning Habitats- Flushing, Queens, New York USA
2017 Dynamic Dimensions- Belskie Museum of Art and Science, Closter, New Jersey, USA
2014 Double Mirror, American University Museum, Washington DC, USA
2014 59th Exhibition of ChangJark Fine Association, Sejong Center Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2014 BBCN Bank, Flushing,New York, USA
2014 Shades of Time, The Archive of Korean American Artists, Queens Museum, New York, USA
2014 Shades of Time, Cultural Service Gallery Korea, NY, USA
2014 Sobab Gallery 3 person show, Seoul, Korea
2013 Gallery of Korean Cultural Center, New York, USA
2012 Maum Gallery, New York, USA
2011 White Lab Gallery, Milano, Italy
2011 Gallery OMS, SF Art Fair, San Francisco, USA
2010 OMS Gallery Miami Art Fair
2010 KCC Gallery, New Jersey, USA
2000 Korean Art Group Exhibition in Culture Center, Paris, France
Special Curated Exhibitions
2 Person Show
2017 Destiny, Wuppertal, Germany
4 Person Show
2012 4-person show, Chun Gallery, NY
2011 JPEG04, Da Gallery, New York, NY
2010 The Sylvia Wald and Pho Kim Gallery, 4-person Exhibition, NY
Group show
2018 Seoul 2 NY, Seoul, Korea
2023 Zen Art Show, White Forest Gallery, Catskills, NY
2024 Zen Art Show, White Forest Gallery, Catskills, NY
2025, Zen Art Show, White Forest Gallery, Catskills, NY
2025 Jeju 2 NY, Jeju Island, Korea
2026 Busan 2 NY, Seoul , korea
Grants and Awards
2025 Edward Hopper House Museum 55x55 Line, Light Juried Exhibition
2014 30-Year Certificate of Teaching in Korean School
2010 AHL Foundation Community Award
2001 Holy Name Best Artist Award, Belskie Museum, Closter, NJ
1998 Art Center of Northern New Jersey Mixed Media Award
1990 Printmaking Award in NJ Women's Art Association
Lectures
2024 Korean American Association of Philadelphia
2014 Seoul, Korea Chungbuk University Art and Culture
2013 National American Korea School, Art and Culture Seminar
2012 New York University, NY, Asian Student Association
Art in Public Place
Gayeon, Fort Lee, NJ
Bank of Hope, Palisades Park, NJ
Korean Community Center, NJ
Review
2026 Art World Red Horizon Art, Heritage, New Energy
2020 Jeju Libo Seoul Korea Sei Ryun Chun Exhibition
2016 TV Channel KBN, About Artist Sei Ryun Chun
2016 TV Channel TKC, Artist Sei Ryun Chun Studio Interview
2016 Seoul, Korea Art and Culture Newspaper
2015 Art Forum Magazine, Seoul, Korea
2014 Seoul Korea Gyeonggi Daily News
2010 New York Korean Times, Artist Sei Ryun Chun
2008 New York Central Daily News, New York Artist Sei Ryun Chun
Performance (Korean Traditional Tea Performance)
2026 The Hanbok NJ
2025 AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander)Heritage Month
2025 Focus Art Fair NY
2024 Queens Public Library NY
2023 Palisades Park Library NJ
2021 Englewood Public Library NJ
2022 Tea Ceremony in Korea in Philly, Philadelphia, PA
2019 OMNE, MK Gallery, VA, Washington D.C.
2018 Korean Thanksgiving Festival in U.S. Botanic Garden, D.C.
2018 Art Space |Aa at Jeju, Korea
2018 Tea Ceremony in Islip Art Museum, NY
2017 Tea Ceremony in Queens Library; Bayside, Woodside, Flushing, East Flushing
2017 Wuppertal, Germany, Destiny Tea Ceremony
2017 Berlin, Germany, Art of Filling Tea Ceremony
2016 Washington, DC, Smithsonian Tea Ceremony
2015 FIT Korea Traditional Tea Ceremony
2000 NYU, Cornell, Boston, and Yale Traditional Tea Ceremony
Essay - Korean Times
Life and Art Columnist
Museum
2016 Suwon Museum of Art Center
1990 MFA Studied at New York University - Printmaking
1986 Art Center of Northern New Jersey - Printmaking
1975 BFA Kun-Kook University - Art & Design
Teaching Experiences
2000 ~ Korean Tradition Tea Demonstration Seminar
Solo Exhibitions
2025 Zen Art White Forest Gallery NY
2024 Octagon, Bona Gallery, Daegu, Korea
2022 Without Beginning Without End, Gamrosa, AZ
2021 CAMINO, Gala Art Center, NY
2021 Catskills Story (Without Beginning Without End), KCC Gallery, NJ
2020 Catskills Story, Davin Fine Art Gallery, NY
2019 OMNE, MK Gallery, VA, Washington D.C.
2018 Ubiquitous, City of Brockton Public Library, MA
2018 Rounded, Islip Art Museum, NY
2017 Art is Filling, Berlin, Germany
2017 Eternal, Bank of Hope, New York, NY
2017 Ubiquitous, Seward Park Library, New York, NY
2016 Ubiquitous, Suwon Art Center, Seoul, Korea
2016 Mutation, Piermont Public Library Gallery, NY
2015 Ubiquitous, Bergen Performing Art Center, NJ
2014 Milky Way, Sesimje Gallery, Jeju, Korea
2013 Fragrance of Tea, Gallery of Korean Cultural Center, Washington DC
2012 Meditation, Oms Art Gallery, Fort Lee, NJ
2011 OM, Long Island University Hutchins Gallery, NY
2010 The Sylvia Wald and Po Kim Gallery, NY
2010 Hommage Soo Keun, Chelsea West Gallery, New York, NY
2003 Bank Asiana Gallery Oms Public Art, NY
2001 Beautiful Organization Exhibition, Seoul, Korea
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025 Gala Art Center - New York, USA
2024 69th Exhibition of Creative Art Association, Seoul Art Center Korean, Seoul, Korea
2022 Open Spring Festival & Zen Art Show, Baklimsa Catskill Zendo, New York, USA
2019 NY 2 Seoul, La:ppland, Seoul, Korea
2018 Parthibition, Space Ciel Gallery- Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, USA
2017 Celebrating Small, Darvin Fine Art Gallery- Piermont, New York, USA
2017 Envisioning Habitats- Flushing, Queens, New York USA
2017 Dynamic Dimensions- Belskie Museum of Art and Science, Closter, New Jersey, USA
2014 Double Mirror, American University Museum, Washington DC, USA
2014 59th Exhibition of ChangJark Fine Association, Sejong Center Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2014 BBCN Bank, Flushing,New York, USA
2014 Shades of Time, The Archive of Korean American Artists, Queens Museum, New York, USA
2014 Shades of Time, Cultural Service Gallery Korea, NY, USA
2014 Sobab Gallery 3 person show, Seoul, Korea
2013 Gallery of Korean Cultural Center, New York, USA
2012 Maum Gallery, New York, USA
2011 White Lab Gallery, Milano, Italy
2011 Gallery OMS, SF Art Fair, San Francisco, USA
2010 OMS Gallery Miami Art Fair
2010 KCC Gallery, New Jersey, USA
2000 Korean Art Group Exhibition in Culture Center, Paris, France
Special Curated Exhibitions
2 Person Show
2017 Destiny, Wuppertal, Germany
4 Person Show
2012 4-person show, Chun Gallery, NY
2011 JPEG04, Da Gallery, New York, NY
2010 The Sylvia Wald and Pho Kim Gallery, 4-person Exhibition, NY
Group show
2018 Seoul 2 NY, Seoul, Korea
2023 Zen Art Show, White Forest Gallery, Catskills, NY
2024 Zen Art Show, White Forest Gallery, Catskills, NY
2025, Zen Art Show, White Forest Gallery, Catskills, NY
2025 Jeju 2 NY, Jeju Island, Korea
2026 Busan 2 NY, Seoul , korea
Grants and Awards
2025 Edward Hopper House Museum 55x55 Line, Light Juried Exhibition
2014 30-Year Certificate of Teaching in Korean School
2010 AHL Foundation Community Award
2001 Holy Name Best Artist Award, Belskie Museum, Closter, NJ
1998 Art Center of Northern New Jersey Mixed Media Award
1990 Printmaking Award in NJ Women's Art Association
Lectures
2024 Korean American Association of Philadelphia
2014 Seoul, Korea Chungbuk University Art and Culture
2013 National American Korea School, Art and Culture Seminar
2012 New York University, NY, Asian Student Association
Art in Public Place
Gayeon, Fort Lee, NJ
Bank of Hope, Palisades Park, NJ
Korean Community Center, NJ
Review
2026 Art World Red Horizon Art, Heritage, New Energy
2020 Jeju Libo Seoul Korea Sei Ryun Chun Exhibition
2016 TV Channel KBN, About Artist Sei Ryun Chun
2016 TV Channel TKC, Artist Sei Ryun Chun Studio Interview
2016 Seoul, Korea Art and Culture Newspaper
2015 Art Forum Magazine, Seoul, Korea
2014 Seoul Korea Gyeonggi Daily News
2010 New York Korean Times, Artist Sei Ryun Chun
2008 New York Central Daily News, New York Artist Sei Ryun Chun
Performance (Korean Traditional Tea Performance)
2026 The Hanbok NJ
2025 AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander)Heritage Month
2025 Focus Art Fair NY
2024 Queens Public Library NY
2023 Palisades Park Library NJ
2021 Englewood Public Library NJ
2022 Tea Ceremony in Korea in Philly, Philadelphia, PA
2019 OMNE, MK Gallery, VA, Washington D.C.
2018 Korean Thanksgiving Festival in U.S. Botanic Garden, D.C.
2018 Art Space |Aa at Jeju, Korea
2018 Tea Ceremony in Islip Art Museum, NY
2017 Tea Ceremony in Queens Library; Bayside, Woodside, Flushing, East Flushing
2017 Wuppertal, Germany, Destiny Tea Ceremony
2017 Berlin, Germany, Art of Filling Tea Ceremony
2016 Washington, DC, Smithsonian Tea Ceremony
2015 FIT Korea Traditional Tea Ceremony
2000 NYU, Cornell, Boston, and Yale Traditional Tea Ceremony
Essay - Korean Times
Life and Art Columnist
Museum
2016 Suwon Museum of Art Center
Sei Ryun Chun- Artist Statement
My work explores the invisible connections that bind nature, memory, and human experience. Drawing from Korean cultural traditions, I transform everyday materials—including hanbok fabric, tea-dyed paper, thread, silk, and ink—into contemporary installations that bridge the past and the present.
Tea is both a material and a philosophy in my practice. The stains left by tea become quiet records of time, while thread symbolizes the invisible relationships that connect people, places, and generations. Through repetition, weaving, wrapping, and layering, I create forms that invite contemplation and stillness.
The circle is a recurring element throughout my work. It represents wholeness, continuity, and the endless cycles of nature. Inspired by Buddhist thought and the rhythms of the natural world, my installations use light, shadow, and suspended forms to create immersive spaces where viewers become aware of both the visible and the invisible.
My recent installations incorporate recycled hanbok textiles in the five traditional Korean colors (Obangsaek). These materials carry memories of everyday life while suggesting renewal and transformation. By combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary installation, I seek to create works that transcend cultural boundaries and speak to universal experiences of connection, healing, and impermanence.
Rather than presenting fixed narratives, I invite viewers into spaces of quiet reflection. My work encourages a moment of pause—a place where light becomes presence, shadow becomes memory, and ordinary materials reveal extraordinary possibilities.
Ultimately, my practice is an ongoing meditation on interconnectedness. Through circles, threads, light, and natural materials, I explore the continuous flow of life, where every ending becomes a new beginning.
Tea is both a material and a philosophy in my practice. The stains left by tea become quiet records of time, while thread symbolizes the invisible relationships that connect people, places, and generations. Through repetition, weaving, wrapping, and layering, I create forms that invite contemplation and stillness.
The circle is a recurring element throughout my work. It represents wholeness, continuity, and the endless cycles of nature. Inspired by Buddhist thought and the rhythms of the natural world, my installations use light, shadow, and suspended forms to create immersive spaces where viewers become aware of both the visible and the invisible.
My recent installations incorporate recycled hanbok textiles in the five traditional Korean colors (Obangsaek). These materials carry memories of everyday life while suggesting renewal and transformation. By combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary installation, I seek to create works that transcend cultural boundaries and speak to universal experiences of connection, healing, and impermanence.
Rather than presenting fixed narratives, I invite viewers into spaces of quiet reflection. My work encourages a moment of pause—a place where light becomes presence, shadow becomes memory, and ordinary materials reveal extraordinary possibilities.
Ultimately, my practice is an ongoing meditation on interconnectedness. Through circles, threads, light, and natural materials, I explore the continuous flow of life, where every ending becomes a new beginning.
