artistic approach
I'm Haejin Yoo, a self-taught oil and acrylic artist, exploring surrealism and symbolism in today's world. Adding carpentry to my art, I create built-in frames for a more captivating effect.
My inspiration comes from our modern idea of persona, shaped by our social lives as we grow older.
The bathroom is my canvas with the "Woman in the Bath" series, where I capture the tranquility of "private thoughts," in a quiet place where our true selves show. Delicate flowers, veiled in a clear translucent liquid, symbolize the persona—fragile, beautiful, and revealing the concealed essence of self.
I want my art to remind people that they are not alone. We all carry facades, but we also need spaces where we can be free and true to ourselves. My work is about creating moments of introspection and connection with our inner worlds.
My inspiration comes from our modern idea of persona, shaped by our social lives as we grow older.
The bathroom is my canvas with the "Woman in the Bath" series, where I capture the tranquility of "private thoughts," in a quiet place where our true selves show. Delicate flowers, veiled in a clear translucent liquid, symbolize the persona—fragile, beautiful, and revealing the concealed essence of self.
I want my art to remind people that they are not alone. We all carry facades, but we also need spaces where we can be free and true to ourselves. My work is about creating moments of introspection and connection with our inner worlds.
some of the artists that inspire me:
Frida Khalo, Egon Chile, Diego Rivera, Edwa Munch, Paul Gaugin, Joan Miro, Gustav Klimt, Wassily Kandinski, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse.
Frida Khalo, Egon Chile, Diego Rivera, Edwa Munch, Paul Gaugin, Joan Miro, Gustav Klimt, Wassily Kandinski, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse.
biography
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Haejin Yoo is a self-taught oil and acrylic artist, born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Australia, whose surrealistic expressionist art evokes emotions from the past and present. She integrates mixed media, including oils, acrylics, textiles, carpentry, and spray paint, to push beyond the limits of traditional canvas art and bring depth to her works.
As an artist on the autism spectrum, Haejin’s unique perspective allows her to explore themes of identity, emotion, and introspection—concepts at the heart of her Woman in the Bath series. This body of work reflects on the vulnerability of private thoughts and the fluid nature of persona, offering intimate moments of self-reflection and connection. Her autism not only shapes her creative process but also informs the deeply personal and universal qualities in her work. Haejin discovered her passion for art at a young age, but it was suppressed until her late twenties when she transitioned from a career in the sciences. The analytical skills she developed in her scientific background now enrich her understanding of artistic mediums, including oils and acrylics. After nearly eight years in Germany, where she exhibited extensively across Europe, Haejin has returned to Sydney, Australia. Haejin's achievements include 2nd Prize in the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize: RAYMAR Traditional Art Award, recognition as one of Saatchi Art’s Rising Stars for 2024, selection as one of the HUG100 Artists to Watch in 2024, and a Finalist position in the Boynes Artist Award 10th Edition (2024). She also won the Merit Prize Award at Teravarna's International Juried Art Competition (2023), the Artist Expert Award (2022) presented by Prof. Vittorio Sgarbi, and First Prize Abstract Award at FIRA International Art Fair Barcelona (2022). Notably, Woman in the Bath III was selected as the featured artwork for The Other Art Fair London 2024, displayed on exhibition collateral and a large 3+ metre banner in London. Haejin has exhibited at The Other Art Fair London and Los Angeles (2023) and is set to showcase her work across the US and New Zealand in 2025. |
'Woman in the Bath III' chosen as the main artwork to promote The Other Art Fair London 2024.
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exhibitions & showcases
upcoming:
history:
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'Woman in the Bath III' chosen as the main artwork to promote The Other Art Fair London 2024. 
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awards & accolades
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'Woman in the Bath VI' was the 2nd Prize Winner of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize: RAYMAR Traditional Art Award
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'Friendship Ending' was selected by the Artfinder Staff Pick for Floral Picks - October 2023
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Winner of the Merit Prize Award from Teravarna - August 2023
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Interview by Women's United Art Movement - July 2023
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Interview by Suboart Magazine: International Art Magazine for Emerging Artists - May 2023
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'slump' was selected by Senior Curator, Megan Wright of Saatchi Art for "Curator Picks: The Other Art Fair London"
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"i live in a burning house" was selected by Chief Curator and VP, Art Advisory of Saatchi Art for "New This Week 02-06-2023"
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'Crane Picnic' was selected by the Artfinder Staff Pick for Surrealism - February 2023
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Artist Expert Award | Impronte d’Arte, Galleria DuePuntoZero, Bergamo, Italy - January 2023. Presented by renowned art critic, Prof. Vittorio Sgarbi.
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First Prize Abstract Award | Fira Internacional d'Art Barcelona, Spain - November 2022
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Certificate of Artistic Achievement, Luxembourg Art Prize. Awarded to artists for recognition of high artistic quality - 2020
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Public Vote Award | NOWART Exhibition, Werrkunst Gallery, Bergamo, Italy - May 2019
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