Heather Kim
Name: Heather Kim
City/State: Minneapolis, MN
Email: heatherrosekim at gmail.com
Website: http://www. heatherkim.net/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook. com/heatherhaedalkim
MN Artists: http://www.mnartists. org/heather-kim
City/State: Minneapolis, MN
Email: heatherrosekim at gmail.com
Website: http://www.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.
MN Artists: http://www.mnartists.
Tell me about your work? What are you currently working on? How is this different from past projects?
My art is about narrative portraiture, an introduction to a person's mythology, their constructs of identity.
I would describe my current body of work as mixed media portraiture--oil on canvas portraits paired with scent vessel portraits and edible taste portraits.
My art is influenced by my synesthesia, a “...neurological condition in which the stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Synesthesia ; 8/17/2013) I take what I see, smell, and taste with my models, whom I have all worked closely with and are also artists, and create a portrait.
I am also currently the executive pastry chef at Hola Arepa. I feel like that I am able to successfully execute my taste portraits now that I cook professionally, something that I would not have attempted in the past.
Also, last year my dad had a major hemmorhagic stroke, leaving him paralyzed on his right side and unable to communicate. My dad, being the amazing human being that his is, has fought viciously back to be himself and live life fully again. This has inspired me to fight for what I love and not to take anything for granted. I am loving life twice as hard.
This is re-shaping my work into something new. I hope to be able to express all the delightful awkwardness and beauty of who a person is, who I am, and who I want to introduce you to. I cannot separate one part of my life and say that has nothing to do with art. Everything that I do as an artist has to do with my art. Everything is art, art is everything. If it isn’t, then I’m probably not doing it right.
How did you decide to become an artist?
Perhaps this is a decision for some, but in my case, it is what I have always been. I do not know how not to be artist. So I guess you could say, I decided to become an artist by deciding to be myself.
What was the best advice given to you as an artist?
Perhaps this is a decision for some, but in my case, it is what I have always been. I do not know how not to be artist. So I guess you could say, I decided to become an artist by deciding to be myself.
What was the best advice given to you as an artist?
My mentor, Harry Ahn, once told me the beauty in art lies in the struggle. My art must be freakin' gorgeous by now.
I sell my work through Altered Esthetics or by inquiries from my Facebook. I market myself though Altered Esthetics and Facebook.
I have recently become a tattoo apprentice at 4 Points Body Gallery, and hope to sell my art and market myself through the tattoo medium as well.
Who are some of the Minnesota artists you enjoy?
Brittany Foster: http://www.brittanyjewelry.
Isa Gagarin: http://www. isagagarin.com/
If I were to follow you around to see art in Minnesota, which places would we go? What would we see?
We would go to the MIA to visit Georgia O'Keeffe's "View from Pedernal", the Walker Sculpture Garden to sit and wonder in James Turrell's "Sky Pesher, sing some karaoke and play some ping pong in Wing Young Huie's basement after going to a beautiful thought-provoking opening at his Third Place Gallery, or dance party away while viewing wicked smart fun local artists at Public Functionary.
In addition to www.Local-Artist-Interviews. com, where do you go online for good art resources, whether to find a new artist, or to see what is going on in the art world locally and otherwise?
Heather Kim
Do you have any exhibits to promote in the near future?
Altered Esthetics Solo Exhibitions Alumni Group Show at Nomad World Pub Opening Thursday, December 11 6-8 pm on display through February 4th 2015
Altered Esthetics Gallery Profile