The Strength it Takes to be Alone by Yong Joo Kim

Artist list

Yong Joo Kim

At the core of Yong Joo Kim’s sculptural art practice lies her unique method of applying pressure and weight to her chosen material. This technique not only visualizes the invisible sense of pressure and weight she feels, but also becomes a transformative method of creation, shaping forms that are unpredictable even to her, thus truly creative.
Just as mountains and valleys are residues of nature under pressure and weight, the exhibition showcases works of art that are residues of an artist under pressure and weight. Through the understated beauty of their final form, the work presented also celebrates the often neglected beauty found in the efforts we all make to persevere despite the struggles we experience in our lives.
In the embrace of her art, Yong Joo Kim wishes us all to find solace, personal connection, and inspiration, reminding us that, in the face of challenges, we are never truly alone.

About the Artist
A native of Seoul, Korea, Yong Joo Kim received her MFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing from the Rhode Island School of Design and her BFA in Arts and Crafts (Metals and Textiles) from Sook Myung Women’s University. She is a Society of Arts and Crafts (SAC) and NICHE award-winning artist with an extensive record of exhibitions across Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. She is considered a pioneer in the use of hook-and-loop fasteners as material for art. Her work crosses the genre of both wearable sculpture and installations. She has been a featured speaker at premier conferences and exhibitions such as the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) and Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design (SOFA). Her work appears in the permanent collection of Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA), Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Art Bank (MMCA), Seoul Museum of Craft Art, and Velcro Group. She currently lives and works across Seoul and Chicago.


Opening Reception: April 12, 4 pm - 7 pm


About Pistachios
Pistachios is a contemporary art jewelry and objects gallery in downtown Chicago, curating the most talented and cutting-edge artists from around the world. For 30 years, we’ve made it our promise to bring you the best in innovative design and quality craftsmanship. What sets art jewelry apart is the studio practice and creative expression behind each piece. We bring you an art experience that’s inviting, accessible, and friendly.