Min Park is a Korean artist and designer based in Brooklyn, New York. Her multidisciplinary practice explores identity, memory, belonging, and the experience of existing between cultures. Working across painting, drawing, illustration, installation, and moving image, she often uses watercolor, ink, pencil, translucent materials, and fabric to create layered and dreamlike imagery. Her work has been exhibited in New York and internationally, including solo exhibitions in Brooklyn and Seoul, as well as group exhibitions at Art on Paper NYC, Powerhouse Arts, Gallery Nucleus, and other venues.

Can you tell us about your background and how you started your artistic journey?

I was born and raised in South Korea and later moved to New York to continue my studies in art and design. I have always been drawn to drawing and storytelling, but my artistic practice became much more personal after moving abroad. Living between two cultures made me think more deeply about identity, belonging, memory, and the ways our surroundings shape who we become. Over time, art became a way for me to process those experiences and explore parts of myself that were difficult to express through words. My background in visual communication design also influences the way I approach composition and storytelling, while my fine art practice gives me more freedom to work intuitively and emotionally. Today, my work often moves between illustration, painting, drawing, and installation.

How do you stay inspired and motivated to create new work?

A lot of my inspiration comes from everyday experiences, memories, dreams, conversations, and moments that stay with me emotionally. I am especially interested in feelings that are difficult to explain clearly, such as nostalgia, displacement, uncertainty, or the feeling of being caught between different versions of yourself. I also try not to pressure myself to constantly produce finished work. Sometimes inspiration comes from simply observing, collecting images, writing down thoughts, experimenting with materials, or allowing an idea to develop slowly. Staying curious is probably the most important part of keeping myself motivated.

How has your artistic style evolved over time?

My earlier work was much more focused on detailed illustration and creating visually complete images. Over time, I became increasingly interested in ambiguity, experimentation, and leaving space for the viewer to interpret the work. My recent practice has become softer, more layered, and more fragmented. I often use watercolor, ink, pencil, translucent paper, fabric, and other materials that allow for erasure, movement, and unpredictability. I have also started expanding beyond two-dimensional work into installation. As my work has evolved, I have become less interested in creating a single polished image and more interested in creating an atmosphere or emotional space.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part is being able to turn something very personal or intangible into something another person can connect with.Sometimes a work begins with a memory, emotion, or experience that feels extremely specific to me, but someone else may see it and relate it to their own life in a completely different way. I love that art can create that kind of connection without requiring everything to be explained. It is also rewarding to look back at older work and realize that each piece becomes a record of who I was at a particular moment in my life.

What challenges have you faced as an artist, and how have you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to balance being an artist with the practical realities of building a career and supporting myself. There can be pressure to constantly create, promote yourself, participate in opportunities, and compare your progress with other artists. For me, overcoming that has involved learning to define success on my own terms. I try to focus less on external milestones and more on whether I am continuing to grow, experiment, and make work that feels meaningful to me. Another challenge has been trusting my own artistic voice. Earlier in my career, I sometimes felt that I needed to make work that was immediately understandable or visually perfect. Over time, I have become more comfortable with uncertainty and with allowing the work to remain unresolved.

What advice would you give to emerging artists trying to establish themselves?

I would encourage emerging artists to focus on developing a body of work that genuinely reflects their interests rather than trying to predict what other people want to see. It is also important to keep showing your work, applying for opportunities, meeting other artists, and building relationships within your creative community. Many opportunities come gradually through people you meet and the consistency of continuing to put your work into the world. At the same time, try not to measure your career against someone else’s timeline. An artistic career rarely develops in a straight line. Keep experimenting, stay curious, and allow your practice to change as you change.

Text and photo courtesy of Min Park

Website: https://www.minparksdesign.com/illustration
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mins_arts/