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Julia Kwon sews interpretative bojagi—Korean object-wrapping cloths historically created since the early Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910)—and wraps hallow human-scale figures with them to comment on the objectification of Asiatic female bodies. Further, she embeds patterns from contemporary sociopolitical events to challenge the notion of authenticity and examine the complexities of constructing identity within the context of globalism, cultural hybridity, and intersectionality. Kwon also explores community and personal relationship building through collaborative projects such as communal quilting, one-on-one portrait drawing, and building a community that shares local artist talks. Her newest project "Unapologetically Asian" is a series of Korean patchwork face masks that are created in response to the coronavirus-related racism against Asian Americans. Julia Kwon earned her M.F.A. at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts/Tufts University and B.A. in Studio Art at Georgetown University. She was also a participant at the Chautauqua School of Art residency program. Her work is included in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC and has been exhibited nationally including art galleries such as Hartnett Gallery of the University of Rochester and Torpedo Factory Art Center. Her work has been featured and reviewed internationally including in television programs such as PBS’s WETA Arts series that showcases the creative arts scene in the Greater Washington DC area as well as one of the major Korean national television networks SBS’s international news. Kwon won awards such as the School of the Museum of Fine Arts/Tufts University's Traveling Fellowship as well as the artist residencies at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Vermont Studio Center, NARS Foundation, Montgomery College, Gallery 263, and Textile Arts Center. She presented artist lectures and workshops at Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, The Phillips Collection, Georgetown University, Lehigh University, University of Rochester, Emerson College, Montgomery College, among others. |
