Tender Moments by Seulgi Kwon

Artist list

Seulgi Kwon

Colorful, fluid, organic and supple, Kwon’s jewelry is inspired by the growth cycles of plants and flowers. Kwon uses these forms and themes to symbolize life experiences.

Using silicone, which the artist describes as a “flexible material that is soft, light, transparent, and moves freely”, Kwon creates complex forms that evoke the plant lifecycle from seed to full bloom. Kwon states, “Nature is the root of my subject matter and has provided me with infinite possibilities…. Some people see my artwork as like a cell, an organ from the human body, a marine creature, or a flower. I like the fact that the common thread in these interpretations is the imagery of a fluid, dynamic form…. a living thing.”

Kwon’s floral jewelry isn’t meant to be purely pretty. Kwon says “Every bend, curve and swell of the silicone has a deep and close relationship with my life experiences.” Kwon’s jewelry consists of brooches and necklaces, object that are worn close to the heart and therefore, in her opinion, the most precious and personal.
She molds the silicone and adds pigment, as well as beads, fabric, paper, thread, and other materials to make each piece unique and alive, akin to the plant or flower that inspired it.

The title of the exhibition, “Tender Moments” is derived from the importance of memory and life’s “moments”, and the root of the word tender. Kwon says that the word tender “…has evolved from the latin “tenet” meaning thin, delicate, fresh and young. These words are perfect descriptors of the shape, form, texture and appearance of my jewelry”


Opening: September 10th, 6-8pm
Gallery Hours: Monday-­Saturday, 11-­‐6:30h and Sunday, 12-­‐6h


About the Artist:
Kwon earned both her Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts in Metalwork and Jewelry at Kookmin University, Seoul, Korea. Her work has been exhibited extensively in Australia, Europe, and Asia. She has received numerous awards, including the BKV Prize, Munich, Germany; Cominelli Foundation Award, Fondazione Cominelli, Italy; Excellent Achievement of MFA, Kookmin University, Seoul, South Korea; International Craft Exhibition ITAMI Prize, Hyogo, Japan; Talente Award, Kunstoff Prize, Munich, Germany; Graduate Metal XI, Adelaide, Australia. Most recently Kwon was the recipient of the Art Jewelry Forum’s prestigious Artist Award.