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 identities within the context of globalism, cultural hybridity, and intersectionality. She also explores community, solidarity, and personal relationship building through various collaborative projects that advocate for a more equitable society for all. Her work is in the permanent collection of Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery (Washington, DC), Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (New York, NY), The New York Public Library (New York, NY), and Museum of International Folk Art (Santa Fe, NM). She has exhibited nationally at venues including the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, The Peale Center at Carroll Museums, Hartnett Gallery of the University of Rochester, and Torpedo Factory Art Center. Her work has been featured and reviewed internationally, including the Smithsonian Magazine, The Washington Post, Korea.net, BmoreArt, Craft Quarterly, PBS's WETA Arts, and SBS international news. She won awards such as SMFA at Tufts's Traveling Fellowship as well as artist residencies at Chautauqua School of Art, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Vermont Studio Center, NARS Foundation, Textile Arts Center, among others. She presented lectures and workshops at institutions including Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Museum of International Folk Art, The Phillips Collection, Georgetown University, Lehigh University, University of Rochester, Emerson College, and Montgomery College. Julia Kwon holds an MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University and a BA in Studio Art from Georgetown University. |
