Today’s Korean ceramic artists have the advantage of centuries of a rich tradition that serves as a valued resource as well as a burden that they carry – and strive to surpass. With an influx of western art practices in the 20th century, Korean artists opened up new, engaging discourses and created visually intriguing works that speak to the global audience.
Yeonsoo Chee, the first curator of Korean Art at the Art Institute of Chicago, will present a brief overview of Korean ceramics from the Three Kingdoms period (about 57 BCE–676 CE) till today. Chee, a specialist in modern Korean painting and Joseon court art, joined the Art Institute in 2020 and is working to grow the Korean art collection and support the museum’s goal of representing the expanse of art across the Asian continent. Pictured: Duck-shaped Ewer with Daoist Priest. Goryeo dynasty (918–1392), 12th century. Stoneware with celadon glaze. The Art Institute of Chicago, Bequest of Russell Tyson, 1964.1213