Seoul, b. 1984

Since the debut of her acclaimed Sealed Smile series in 2008, Kim Jihee has garnered widespread attention for her unique approach—blending traditional East Asian painting techniques with contemporary portraiture. Her works, known for their vibrant aesthetics and emotionally resonant narratives, have earned both critical acclaim and broad public appeal. She has participated in over 400 exhibitions at major galleries and museums across Seoul, New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Miami, London, Cologne, Jakarta, Tokyo, Osaka, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, and Dubai. Kim Jihee has held prominent solo exhibitions at institutions such as Gana Art Sounds and Gana Forum Space in Seoul. In 2024, she was invited for a blockbuster solo exhibition at China’s K11 Art Museum—led by Adrian Cheng, one of the world’s top 100 super collectors—and became the first Korean artist to collaborate with Discovery Park in Hong Kong. Her solo exhibition at Breeze Nanshan’s 333 Gallery in Taiwan further solidified her strong presence in the Chinese-speaking art world. Her collectors include a notable list of global elites: Sabrina Ho (daughter of the late Macau casino magnate Stanley Ho), H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi of Sharjah, UAE, and other high-profile international art patrons. She is frequently referred to as “the artist loved by the super-rich.” Beyond the gallery context, Kim Jihee actively engages in cultural collaborations. She participated in collaboration with Royal Salute 55 Years Old as well as Seoul My Soul in Dubai, a drawing performance exhibition co-hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which attracted over 4,000 viewers. Her past brand collaborations include SK Telecom, LG Eletronics Objet Refrigerator, Stonehenge, Girls’ Generation, and Chinese cosmetics brand LIMI. Her work Sealed Smile was selected as the cover image for the 2025 high school art textbook in South Korea. As a leading figure in contemporary Korean art, Kim Jihee continues to expand her global influence, establishing herself as a distinctive voice in cities around the world.