최주열 작가노트 (b.1983)
Artist's Note.
아직도 기억이 난다. 초등학교를 갓 입학했을 때 즘 부모님과 과천 현대미술관을 방문한 적이 있다. 그 날 작은 크기의 그림 한 점을 보고는 강렬한 느낌을 받았는지 집에 오는 길에 미술도구를 사달라고 졸랐다.
집에 오자마자 도구들을 펼쳤고 기억을 더듬어 그려보았다. 해와 산이 그려진 꽤나 간단해 보이는 그림이었지만 내가 그린 그림에는 당시 느꼈던 강렬함이 담기지 않았고 어린 마음에 금세 포기하고 말았다.
호기심이 가득했던 어린 작가는 내 나름대로 짜릿한 느낌을 찾아가기 위하여 수많은 낙서와 그림들을 끄적이게 되었다.
청소년기에 접어들어 느낌만을 쫓아왔던 나는 공부를 하다보니 모든 예술 작품에는 메세지가 담겨있어야 한다는 것을 알게 되었다.
그 후로부터 순수 예술과는 멀어지게 되었고 디자인 분야로 방향을 바꾸게 되었다. 시간이 흘러 성인이 되었을 때 뉴욕 유학 생활을 하며 다양한 경험을 하게 되었다.
예술이란 참으로 무한한 영역이며 사람마다 각자의 입맛과 취향이 있는 것처럼 예술 또한 작업의 답은 스스로에게 있다는것을 깨달았다. 혀 끝으로 맛을 보다 입 속에 넣어 맛을 음미하는 기분이었다.
어릴 때부터 쫓아온 나의 느낌이 옳다는 확신이 들었고 순수 예술로 내 모든 것을 표출하고 싶어졌다. 이 모든 여정이 운명 같이 느껴졌고 현재 나는 능동적인 운명론자인 작가가 되었다.
본인은 작업을 하는 환경과 느끼는 감정에 따라 추구하는 작품의 미가 바뀌며, 따라서 최고라고 생각하는 작품 또한 시시각각 변한다. 하지만 추구해 온 작업 방향은 지금껏 변하지 않으며 즐기고 있다.
불안정한 구도로 안정감을 찾아내고, 미완성의 느낌으로 완성을 하며, 예상치 못한 색감의 조합에서 아름다움을 본다. 이러한 변칙적이고 모순적인 모습에서 인간미를 느끼고 마치 운명의 순간을 마주하는 것 같다.
나에게 작품 활동은 시작부터 완성까지 무계획이라는 것에 의미가 있으며, 창조한다는 것이 아니라 알 수 없는 멋진 무언가를 발견하는 것에 가깝다.
멋진 결과물을 발견하고 만들었을때 행복을 느끼고 작품들을 완성해 갈 때 마다 이 세상이 만들어 지는 것 같다.
즉흥적인 붓질은 운명과 같고 그 붓질 속에는 종교, 철학 그리고 사랑이 스며들어 있다. 어릴 적 포기했던 꼬맹이의 꿈이 꺼질 듯 꺼지지 않고 지금까지 이어진 운명에 감사한다.
영원히 나에게 집중하며 진정한 행복을 찾아 '완벽한 작품 활동'이라는 불가능한 목표를 평생 이어나갈 것이다.
I still remember it vividly. Around the time I had just entered elementary school, I visited the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Gwacheon with my parents.
That day, a small painting struck me so powerfully that on the way home, I begged them to buy me some art supplies. As soon as we got home, I unpacked the tools and tried to recreate the painting from memory.
It was a simple piece with the sun and mountains, but the powerful feeling I had experienced was nowhere to be found in what I drew. Disappointed, my young self quickly gave up.
Still, the little artist full of curiosity continued to scribble and sketch in pursuit of that same electrifying sensation.
As I entered adolescence, I began to study more seriously and realized that every artwork carries a message. From that point on, I drifted away from fine art and turned toward design.
Later, as an adult living in New York as an art student, I was exposed to a wide range of experiences.
I came to understand that art is a boundless world, and just as everyone has different tastes in food, the value of a piece lies in the artist's own conviction.
It felt like savoring something — first touching it with the tip of my tongue, then letting it linger in my mouth.
That’s when I truly realized that the feeling I had been chasing since childhood was valid. I wanted to express everything I am through fine art.
This entire journey has felt like destiny, and now, I consider myself an active fatalist — an artist who embraces fate, not passively, but by participating in it.
The aesthetic I pursue constantly shifts depending on my environment and emotions. Therefore, what I consider my "best" work also changes from moment to moment.
Yet, the direction I’ve followed in my creative process has never wavered — and I take great joy in that.
I seek balance within unstable compositions, aim for completion through a sense of incompleteness, and find beauty in unexpected color combinations.
In these irregular, paradoxical elements, I feel something deeply human — like encountering a fated moment.
For me, creating art lies in the very act of being unplanned from start to finish. It's less about inventing something, and more about discovering something mysteriously beautiful.
When I uncover and complete a piece, I feel as though I’m helping to build the world itself.
Each spontaneous brushstroke feels like fate. Embedded within them are traces of religion, philosophy, and love.
I’m grateful for this path — for the little dream I once gave up on, which somehow never truly disappeared and has brought me to where I am today.
I will continue to focus inward, pursuing true happiness, and commit to the lifelong journey of chasing the impossible goal of the “perfect artistic expression.”
학력
석사 School of Visual Arts MFA Computer Art 졸업 NY
학부 가천대학교 시각디자인 졸업
개인전
2025 SUPER NICE PIZZA, 열정갤러리, 서울
2025 겨울, 겨울, 겨울, 겨울, 블루원갤러리, 서울
2025 Ah! , Red L Gallery, 대전
2025 얄궂은병아리, 갤러리 밈, 서울
2024 최주열초대개인전, 아틀리에갤러리, 경기
2024 BOUNDARY, SPACE O , 서울
2024 @jhu_choe The Andrew Chang Gallery, 서울
2024 괜찮은 덩어리, TDA Haus, 서울
2023 No More Advise for Artist, Gallery Mei. 서울
2023 Beyond the Word, 우주미술관. 사천시
2023 꽃밭, 갤러리 밈, Seoul
2023 yx414, 갤러리 빈치, Seoul
2022 Janus Complex, 린파인아트 갤러리, Seoul
2022 Vandalism 101 , 아트스페이스 에이치 , Seoul
2021 ACME x JHU, Gathery, Taipei
2021 새우깡 , 미라클 갤러리, Seoul
2020 만나서반가워 , Art Major, Seoul.
2019 그림자 Shadow, Space776, Seoul
2019 저편, Adumbration, 미부아트센터, Busan
2018 알맞은 덩어리 Apartrumpet, SVA 서초갤러리 , Seoul
2018 Ungeziefer, Space 776, Brooklyn, NY
그룹전 & 아트페어
2025 Sydney Contemporary, CarriageWorks, 시드니
2025 Secondhand Nicotine, pov gallery, 서울
2025 2호선 어때?, 블루원 갤러리, 서울
2025 Draw on Page, 성수, 서울
2025 울산국제아트페어, 개인부스, 울산
2025 문래아트페어, 아트필드갤러리, 서울
2025 Market AP, Parc, 서울
2025 Lost in Translation, Iseurrat Artroom, 서울
2025 동모한마당, 아이디어회관, 서울
2025 화랑미술제, 갤러리밈, 서울
2025 Art x Seoul, Hulotte, 서울
2024 UNGEZIEFER , SPACE 776, 서울
2024 COSMOS, 블루원갤러리, 서울
2024 Market AP, PARC, 서울
2024 KIAF , 갤러리밈, 서울
2024 성수아트페어, 이너스페이스 갤러리, 서울
2024 DIAF PLUS, 비앙갤러리, 서울
2024 BABBLE, 열정갤러리, 서울
2024 조형아트, 파르크에디션, 서울
2024 서울미술, 아이디어회관, 서울
2024 화랑미술제 , 갤러리 밈, 수원
2024 대구아트, 비앙갤러리 , 대구
2024 아트부산, 갤러리밈, 부산
2024 BAMA, 비앙갤러리, 부산
2024 마! 왜? 갤러리온, 서울
2024 the master of American pop art 국내작가 특별전, 인사센트럴뮤지엄, 서울
2024 아트락페스티벌, 한가람미술관, 서울
2024 음양조화 에코락갤러리, 서울
2024 ㅈ3 Gallery & Cafe the Colour, 서울
2024 Look into ____ /작가들의 세계를 엿보다. PARC Edition, 서울
2023 홀리롤리데이 선물전, 스페이스 로라, 서울
2023 Hidden Agenda , Project Space Gaze, 서울
2023 Urban Break Busan, Ocean Gallery, 부산
2023 인천 아시아 아트쇼, Kalos Art, 인천
2023 어울림, Outhernet, London
2023 BAMA 호텔 아트페어, 미라클갤러리. 부산
2023 어울림 , SAATCHI GALLERY, LONDON
2023 Colorful Escape, 갤러리에이엔씨, 서울
2023 KIAF , 갤러리 가비, 서울
2023 아트성수, 갤러리 이너스페이스, 서울
2023 Collector’s Box, 하트원. 서울
2023 바라보다/Empathy, Schengen Art Gallery, 광주
2023 Art Live Forever, Taiwan International Sustainable Art Exhibition, Taipei
2023 Urban Break, 개인부스, Seoul
2023 SOUL ; playmate, 폴스타아트갤러리, Seoul
2023 아우라의 진화, Bisket, Seoul
2023 The Preview, 갤러리메이, Seoul
2023 BAMA, 아줄레주 갤러리, Seoul
2023 Do Not Read , 에코락 갤러리, Seoul
2023 Angry Inch , 공간루트, Seoul
2023 XHale, 콜라보하우스 도산, Seoul
2023 The Greatest Start, 이너스페이스 성수, Seoul
2023 복주는 토끼전, 아트스페이스 선, Seoul
2023 교토삼굴전, 에코락갤러리, seoul
2022 The Moment, 린파인아트갤러리, Seoul
2022 인공자연, CCA 갤러리. Seoul
2022 인물展, 에코락갤러리. Seoul
2022 Urban Break, 아줄레주 갤러리, Seoul
2022 Floating pieces , 아줄레주 갤러리, Seoul
2022 BLACK, 아트스페이스에이치, Seoul
2022 Fabulous Rendevous, 클램프 갤러리, Seoul
2022 연희 아트페어, 갤러리 인 , Seoul
2022 BAMA 부산국제화랑아트페어, 미라클갤러리, Busan
2022 화랑미술제, 아트스페이스 에이치, Seoul
2022 Art Lives Forever, Taiwan International Sustainable Art Exhibition. Taipei
2022 Live in the Future,, ESG Art Show, Taipei
2021 이백이벨, 갤러리컬러비트, Seoul
2021 BIAF, 초대작가, Busan
2021 Apartrumpet, 아줄레주 갤러리 , Seoul
2021 Urban Break, 미라클 갤러리, Seoul
2021 My Collection with NFT, 유진갤러리, Seoul
2021 인생은 천살부터_그사이에 빛은 색의 시간을 꿈꾸고, 중력은 시간을 달리겠지, SVA
2021 서초갤러리, Seoul
2021 BAMA 부산국제화랑아트페어, 미라클갤러리, Busan
2021 One-Piece, 아줄레주 갤러리, Seoul
2021 New Wave, 아트리에 갤러리, Seoul
2020 KIAF 키아프 아트 서울, 아줄레주갤러리, Seoul.
2020 BAMA 부산국제화랑아트페어, 미라클갤러리, Busan
2017 Moonrise / Sunrise, Neon Tribe, Brooklyn, NY
2017 Summer Vacation, New Studio, New York, NY
2016 It’s moving day, New Studio, New York, NY
2016 Cubes of Korean Literature, K/Reate, New York, NY,
2015 Roach, Visual Arts Gallery, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY 31
수상 및 활동
2023 우수상, 이데일리문화재단 주최 복주는토끼전, Seoul
2021 Hypebeast, https://hypebeast.com/zh/2021/11/acme-jhu-first-solo-art-exibition-taiwan-info
2021 문체부 공공미술 프로젝트 서울 25부작, Seoul
2017 Escape INTO, Open Studio, Brooklyn, NY
2016 Official Selection, Bushwick Film Festival, Brooklyn, NY
2016 Official Selection, Los Angeles CineFest, Los Angeles, CA
2016 Official Selection, Amsterdam Lift-Off Film online Festival, Amsterdam, Netherland.
2015 Finalist, Taiwan International Student Design Competition, Taiwan
2015 School of Visual Arts MFACA Selected Thesis Works, New York, NY
Education
MFA in Computer Art, School of Visual Arts, New York, USA
BFA in Visual Communication Design, Gachon University, South Korea
Solo Exhibitions
2025 SUPER NICE PIZZA, Yeoljeong Gallery, Seoul
2025 Winter, Winter, Winter, Winter, Blue One Gallery, Seoul
2025 Ah!, Red L Gallery, Daejeon, South Korea
2025 얄궂은병아리 (Odd Chick), Gallery Meme, Seoul, South Korea
2024 Choi Ju Yeol Solo Exhibition, Atelier Gallery, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
2024 BOUNDARY, SPACE O, Seoul, South Korea
2024 @jhu_choe, The Andrew Chang Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2024 A Decent Chunk (괜찮은 덩어리), TDA Haus, Seoul, South Korea
2023 No More Advice for Artists, Gallery Mei, Seoul, South Korea
2023 Beyond the Word, Wooju Museum of Art, Sacheon, South Korea
2023 Flower Field (꽃밭), Gallery Meme, Seoul, South Korea
2023 yx414, Gallery Vinci, Seoul, South Korea
2022 Janus Complex, Lin Fine Art Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2022 Vandalism 101, Art Space H, Seoul, South Korea
2021 ACME x JHU, Gathery, Taipei, Taiwan
2021 Shrimp Snack (새우깡), Miracle Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2020 Nice to Meet You (만나서 반가워), Art Major, Seoul, South Korea
2019 Shadow (그림자), Space 776, Seoul, South Korea
2019 Adumbration (저편), MIBU Art Center, Busan, South Korea
2018 A Proper Chunk (알맞은 덩어리), Apartrumpet, SVA Seocho Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2018 Ungeziefer, Space 776, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Group Exhibitions & Art Fairs
2025 Sydney Contemporary, CarriageWorks, Sydney
2025 Secondhand Nicotine, POV Gallery, Seoul
2025 How About Line 2?, Blue One Gallery, Seoul
2025 Draw on Page, Seongsu, Seoul, South Korea
2025 Ulsan International Art Fair (Solo Booth), Ulsan, South Korea
2025 Mullae Art Fair, Art Field Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2025 Market AP, PARC, Seoul, South Korea
2025 Lost in Translation, Iseurrat Artroom, Seoul, South Korea
2025 Dongmo Hanmadang, Idea Hall, Seoul, South Korea
2025 Gallery Fair, Gallery Meme, Seoul, South Korea
2025 Art × Seoul, Hulotte, Seoul, South Korea
2024 UNGEZIEFER, SPACE 776, Seoul, South Korea
2024 COSMOS, Blue One Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2024 Market AP, PARC, Seoul, South Korea
2024 KIAF, Gallery Meme, Seoul, South Korea
2024 Seongsu Art Fair, Inner Space Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2024 DIAF PLUS, Vian Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2024 BABBLE, Passion Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2024 Sculpture Art Fair, PARC Edition, Seoul, South Korea
2024 Seoul Art, Idea Hall, Seoul, South Korea
2024 Gallery Fair, Gallery Meme, Suwon, South Korea
2024 Daegu Art Fair, Vian Gallery, Daegu, South Korea
2024 Art Busan, Gallery Meme, Busan, South Korea
2024 BAMA, Vian Gallery, Busan, South Korea
2024 Ma! Why?, Gallery On, Seoul, South Korea
2024 The Master of American Pop Art – Special Exhibition of Domestic Artists, Insacenteral Museum, Seoul, South Korea
2024 Art Rock Festival, Hangaram Museum, Seoul, South Korea
2024 Yin-Yang Harmony, Ecorock Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2024 Gallery & Café the Colour, Seoul, South Korea
2024 Look into ____ / Peeking into Artists’ Worlds, PARC Edition, Seoul, South Korea
2023 Holly Holiday Gift Exhibition, Space LORA, Seoul, South Korea
2023 Hidden Agenda, Project Space Gaze, Seoul, South Korea
2023 Urban Break Busan, Ocean Gallery, Busan, South Korea
2023 Incheon Asia Art Show, Kalos Art, Incheon, South Korea
2023 Harmony, Outhernet, London, UK
2023 BAMA Hotel Art Fair, Miracle Gallery, Busan, South Korea
2023 Harmony, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2023 Colorful Escape, Gallery A&C, Seoul, South Korea
2023 KIAF, Gabi Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2023 Art Seongsu, Inner Space Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2023 Collector’s Box, Heart One, Seoul, South Korea
2023 Empathy / 바라보다, Schengen Art Gallery, Gwangju, South Korea
2023 Art Live Forever – Taiwan International Sustainable Art Exhibition, Taipei, Taiwan
2023 Urban Break (Solo Booth), Seoul, South Korea
2023 SOUL; playmate, Polestar Art Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2023 Evolution of Aura, Bisket, Seoul, South Korea
2023 The Preview, Gallery Mei, Seoul, South Korea
2023 BAMA, Azuleju Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2023 Do Not Read, Ecorock Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2023 Angry Inch, Space Root, Seoul, South Korea
2023 XHale, CollaboHouse Dosan, Seoul, South Korea
2023 The Greatest Start, Inner Space Seongsu, Seoul, South Korea
2023 Bokjune is the Rabbit Exhibition, Art Space Sun, Seoul, South Korea
2023 Kyoto Three Deep Exhibition, Ecorock Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2022 The Moment, Lin Fine Art Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2022 Artificial Nature, CCA Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2022 Portrait Exhibition, Ecorock Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2022 Urban Break, Azuleju Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2022 Floating Pieces, Azuleju Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2022 BLACK, Art Space H, Seoul, South Korea
2022 Fabulous Rendezvous, Clamp Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2022 Yeonhui Art Fair, Gallery In, Seoul, South Korea
2022 BAMA – Busan International Gallery & Art Fair, Miracle Gallery, Busan, South Korea
2022 Gallery Fair, Art Space H, Seoul, South Korea
2022 Art Lives Forever – Taiwan International Sustainable Art Exhibition, Taipei, Taiwan
2022 Live in the Future – ESG Art Show, Taipei, Taiwan
2021 I Baek I Bell, Gallery Colorbeat, Seoul, South Korea
2021 BIAF (Invited Artist), Busan, South Korea
2021 Apartrumpet, Azuleju Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2021 Urban Break, Miracle Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2021 My Collection with NFT, Eugene Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2021 Life at 200 Years_old… In Between, Light Dreams of Time in Color, Gravity Will Run Away with Time, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY, USA
2021 Seocho Gallery Show, Seoul, South Korea
2021 BAMA – Busan International Gallery & Art Fair, Miracle Gallery, Busan, South Korea
2021 One‑Piece, Azuleju Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2021 New Wave, Atelier Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2020 KIAF – Art Seoul, Azuleju Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2020 BAMA – Busan International Gallery & Art Fair, Miracle Gallery, Busan, South Korea
2017 Moonrise / Sunrise, Neon Tribe, Brooklyn, NY, USA
2017 Summer Vacation, New Studio, New York, NY, USA
2016 It’s Moving Day, New Studio, New York, NY, USA
2016 Cubes of Korean Literature, K/Reate, New York, NY, USA
2015 Roach, Visual Arts Gallery, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY, USA
Awards & Activities
2023 Excellence Award, “Bokjune is the Rabbit” Exhibition, hosted by E-Daily Cultural Foundation, Seoul, South Korea
2021 Featured in Hypebeast: ACME x JHU First Solo Art Exhibition in Taiwan
2021 Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Public Art Project: 25 Works Across Seoul, Seoul, South Korea
2017 Escape INTO, Open Studio Exhibition, Brooklyn, NY, USA
2016 Official Selection, Bushwick Film Festival, Brooklyn, NY, USA
2016 Official Selection, Los Angeles CineFest, Los Angeles, CA, USA
2016 Official Selection, Amsterdam Lift-Off Online Film Festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2015 Finalist, Taiwan International Student Design Competition, Taiwan
2015 Selected Thesis Work, School of Visual Arts MFA Computer Art Exhibition, New York, NY, USA