"...my desire is to get to the essence of things, the elemental, the essential."
SoHyun Bae (b. 1967) is a contemporary painter whose work bridges cultural memory, narrative, and spiritual inquiry through layered, immersive compositions. Born in South Korea and based in New York, Bae’s practice engages with histories both personal and collective, exploring themes of absence, gender, and cross-cultural identity through imagery that oscillates between figuration, abstraction, and symbolism. Her paintings unfold as contemplative narratives, where the fragility of life and resilience of the human spirit coexist.
Bae earned a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, an MFA from Boston University, and a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School, where she studied under Elie Wiesel. She has received numerous fellowships and awards, including the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship, the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, and support from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, reflecting recognition for both her technical mastery and conceptual depth.
Bae has exhibited internationally in major institutions, including the Asian Art Museum, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, and the Seoul Arts Center Hangaram Museum. Her works explore the poetic tension between materiality and memory, weaving narratives that reflect historical absence while asserting the presence of female and marginalized perspectives. Collectors and institutions value Bae’s paintings for their narrative sophistication, cross-cultural resonance, and innovative approach to contemporary painting, establishing her as a singular voice whose work continues to expand the formal and conceptual possibilities of the medium.