Installation view, Spanning a Lifetime: Early and Late Works by Cho Yong-Ik

Spanning a Lifetime: Early and Late Works by Cho Yong-Ik
Closing Friday, October 3, 2025
49 East 78th St, Ste 4B, NYC (by appointment)

These are the final days to experience Spanning a Lifetime: Early and Late Works by Cho Yong-Ik at HK Art and Antiques. This solo exhibition of the late Cho Yong-Ik (1934–2023), a pioneering master of Korean abstract art and a foundational figure of the Dansaekhwa movement, offers a rare opportunity for U.S. audiences to engage with his profound artistic legacy. Cho’s work has been celebrated internationally, featured in the 1967 and 1969 Paris Biennales and the 1967 São Paulo Biennale, and is held in major collections worldwide.

Born in Bukcheong, Korea, he studied painting at Seoul National University under the esteemed art historian and painter Kim Byung-ki, whose emphasis on artistic independence became a lifelong guiding principle. Emerging in the wake of the Korean War, Cho sought to redefine Korean identity through abstraction. His artistic vision was deeply informed by his passion for ancient Korean ceramics and artifacts, which he avidly collected. This reverence for tradition merged with his desire to reshape Korea’s cultural reality, resulting in a practice that bridged history and innovation. While many Dansaekhwa artists adhered strictly to muted palettes, Cho introduced subtle yet intentional use of color within the monochrome framework. His surfaces, often layered with delicately applied acrylics, echoed the translucent glazes of Joseon ceramics, imbuing his work with both material sensitivity and emotional depth. His process—meditative, tactile, and rhythmically executed—reflected a philosophical inquiry into repetition, impermanence, and the act of making.

Don’t miss this rare chance to experience a lifetime of innovation before the exhibition closes!

To learn more, click here.