Sunhee Joo
Artist Statement
For me, art is visual poetry. Instead of words I use lines, colors and shapes. I arrange those visual elements to create a certain feeling or mood. I strive to find a unique and personal artistic expression that conveys my love for God, people and nature.
Even in my religious work, I try to liberate myself from dogmatism or traditionalism. I do not want to preach nor teach. I just want to invite the viewers come inside my artwork and feel His love.
My favorite subjects are people and nature, Especially I like people in the Bible. The Bible stories always inspire me and give me life. I like to depict a scene from the Bible with a fresh childlike vision. I also like people here and now. I try to see holiness in them. Since I grew up near the mountains, hills, rivers, and streams, I love to create images with natural elements in it.
Technically I combine traditional art materials and photoshop tools to create my image.
The Journey to Becoming an Artist
Sunhee Joo was born in Seoul, Korea and raised by parents who were educators. She lived in the mountainous part of northern Seoul where fragrant pine trees, sweet black locust trees, and rushing streams were abundant. From her parents she gained the love for learning; from her surroundings she gained the love for nature.
Sunhee grew up during a poor time in Korea’s history, just after the war. Her father, not rich by any means, often cared for his orphaned nephews and nieces in their home. From this experience she learned to have compassion toward people of less fortunate circumstances.
Her love and appreciation for nature and all its beauty did not lead her to become an artist right away. Initially, she was attracted to the scientific theories and explanations of the occurrences in nature.
After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Physics from the Seoul National University in Korea, she moved to Los Angeles, California to study Physics at the University of Southern California and to get married.
After she earned her Master of Science in Physics and had her first child, she realized that her heart was not into becoming a scientist. She gave up physics and began her quest on finding who she really was.
She started to take art classes and explored various religions. After her second child was born, she became more serious about her art and finding the religion that best fit her beliefs.
During her journey she came across two people who had a tremendous impact on who she is today. At Santa Monica College, she met Jean Barlow. Jean Barlow’s drawing class opened her eyes to see like an artist. Jean Barlow nurtured the artist in her that was ready to blossom. This led Sunhee to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Painting at the University of California Los Angeles.
While blossoming into an artist, Sunhee continued to dapple in a variety of religions and met various religious leaders such as the Dalai Lama and Zen Masters. In 1986, the most influential religious person she encountered was Father Noel Ryan. Father Ryan, an Irish Catholic priest, devoted his youth as a missionary in Korea. She met Father Ryan in Los Angeles while he served Korean immigrant believers. His homily, spoken in Korean, moved her heart so much she wept. As a result, he baptized her later that year.
In 1987, she finally earned the Master of Fine Arts in Painting at the University of California Los Angeles.She studied and painted abstract art during her graduate school years. However, at the last Master of Fine Arts show her large nature painting emerged. From then on, she rarely created pure abstract work.
In 1990, she had an opportunity to become financially independent for the first time in her life. She became a full-time teacher at Wilton Place Elementary School in Los Angeles. Her passion for art intensified during this teaching period of her life.
Working during the week, made her appreciate the time she had on weekends to enjoy nature. She often visited Will Rogers State Park in Pacific Palisades and hiked Canyon Hiking Trails with ocean views. One memorable spring day, she looked down from the hills and truly felt one with nature, as The Rite of Spring by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky played in her head.
In 2017, after 27 years of service as a Los Angeles Unified School District teacher, she retired. During this time she had 6 solo exhibitions.
In 2018, she became a member of the TAG Gallery and finally a full-time artist.
Her figurative art, printed on art paper and mostly created on a desktop computer using Photoshop, exhibits her unique esthetic. Her internal voices are conveyed through various images that change in subject matter, composition, or color. Her favorite subjects are people, nature, and God’s love.
Currently, Sunhee is a board member of Korean Artists Association of Southern California and a founding member of the Korean Catholic Artist Association in Los Angeles.
Her works are loved by a number of private collectors.