Statement
My "Near Me" series began over the past five years with a daily sketch of familiar objects around me. By reinterpreting these everyday items from an unconventional perspective, I explore their essence and value in a new light.
To reconstruct the essence of each object and hint at hidden stories, I use mirror-finished stainless steel, filling one half of the surface with paint while leaving the other half empty. The reflective surface redefines the object's meaning, while the intentionally created empty space suggests uncertainty.
Through this abstract incompleteness, I emphasize the inherent emotional depth of the objects, encouraging viewers to understand them from a fresh perspective. This approach reveals the reimagined meaning and value of ordinary objects within the work, and the scope of "Near Me" gradually expands beyond its physical boundaries.
Bio
Jong Henry Kim (he/him) is a Korean-born artist with a multidisciplinary background in media art. He holds a BFA in Painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MFA in New Form Art from Pratt Institute. His diverse artistic training spans painting, drawing, sound, digital media, video installations, and kinetic sculptures.
From 2002 to 2015, Henry ran an advertising company, exploring the integration of technology and art. This experience has greatly shaped his current work, where he blends traditional and modern techniques to develop a unique visual language in painting.
In his 'Near Me' series, created over the past four years, Henry reinterprets everyday objects using mirror-finished stainless steel plates, crafting a dialogue between presence and absence. This approach emphasizes the emotional depth and imperfections of these objects, transforming the mundane into the extraordinary.
Henry's work invites viewers to uncover hidden narratives within ordinary objects, offering both intellectual and emotional resonance as his art continues to evolve.
• 1998 • Pratt Institute, NYC, Master of Fine Arts, “New Form”
• 1994 • School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL Bachelor of Fine Arts, “Painting”
• 2018 • Mana Contemporary, NJ , Apr
• 2017 • Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ, March
• 2015 • NABI Museum of the Arts , NJ, 2 person show, November
• 2012 • Jamaica Center for Arts, NY “Digitized Fate” October
• 2016 • Call for bushwick, NYC Jun
• 2015 • NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program
Artist development program
• 2016 • Yonkers Art Festival, NYC
• 2016 • LLB Gallery, NY
Last Updated 2025.10.31