On view: November 19 - December 18, 2026

Tuesday - Friday: 10 AM - 6 PM / Saturday: 11 AM - 5 PM
Closed on Sunday and Monday.

Venue: Gallery (2F) at the KCCNY

122 East 32nd Street, New York, NY, 10016

The Korean Cultural Center New York is pleased to present The Present Tense, a special exhibition organized in collaboration with the National Academy of Arts, Republic of Korea. Bringing together 25 works by 20 current members of the Academy’s Fine Arts Division and five late masters—Kim Whanki, Chun Kyungja, Suh Seok, Lee Jongsang, and Chung Sanghwa—the exhibition highlights the artistic achievements and creative spirit that have shaped modern and contemporary Korean art.

Spanning painting, sculpture, crafts, calligraphy, and architecture, the exhibition showcases the diverse artistic practices and visual languages developed by Korean artists across generations. Through their explorations of traditional materials, innovative techniques, and new forms of expression, these artists have continually expanded the possibilities of Korean art.

As its title suggests, The Present Tense explores how art transcends time, acquiring new meaning through encounters with different perspectives. Amid growing global interest in K-culture, the exhibition invites New York audiences to discover the depth and diversity of Korean visual art and experience how the artistic legacies of the past continue to resonate in the present

Featured Artworks

Participating Artists

Painting (15)

Youn Myeungro, Yoo Heeyoung, Park Kwangjin, Kim Souckchin, Kim Hyungdae, Ha Chonghyun, Lee Cheoljoo, Oh Yonggil, Won Moonja, Song Sooryun, Kim Whanki, Chun Kyungja, Suh Seok, Lee Jongsang, Chung Sanghwa

Sculpture (4)

Jeun Loijin, Choi Jongtae, Um Taijung, Choi Euisoon

Crafts (4)

Lee Shinja (Fiber), Kang Chankyun (Metal), Cho Chunghyun (Ceramics), Chung Haecho (Lacquer)

Calligraphy (1)

Kim Yangdong

Architecture (1)

Yoon Seungjoong