About Joon Hee Kim

Her artistic journey commenced in graphic design as an art director in her native South Korea. She ventured to Canada to pursue patisserie at Le Cordon Bleu in Ottawa. Her fascination with ceramics and its potential to explore themes of identity and humanity in contemporary visual art led her to shift her career focus and pursue art full time. As the Cecil Lewis Sculpture Scholarship recipient, She completed a Master’s in Fine Art at Chelsea College of Arts in the UK. Her compelling ceramic works have been exhibited in the USA, Germany, UK, and Italy, while she continues to develop an international presence and expand her audience. Taking every opportunity to learn, experiment and connect, she is recognized as a leader in ceramic visual arts both nationally and internationally. She examines her heritage through the lenses of multiple influences as she travels to both national and international artist residencies. Following the Banff Clay Revival Residency, she was one of six-selected artists for the Canadian Craft Biennial. Then she attended the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park Residence in Japan, the Ceramic Centre Residency in Berlin, and most recently and prevalently the Archie Bray Foundation Residency. She is the recipient of many honourable awards and grants, including grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts Council, winning the Best of Ceramics, and Best of Craft and Design the ensuing year from the Toronto Outdoor Fair, as well as being awarded the prestigious Winifred Shantz National Award for an exceptional emerging ceramic artist. Her latest achievement derives from her work being chosen through numerous selections for the Royal Botanical Garden’s International Sculpture Collection and Tia collection. She also was named Artist of the Year 2023 by ITSLIQUID group from Venice, Italy, as she demonstrated appeal in international contemporary art circles.