Suki Seokyeong Kang, a Korean sculptor known for reimagining traditional Korean artistic forms in contemporary sculpture, died on Sunday at age 48 after a years-long battle with cancer. Her passing was announced by Seoul’s Kukje Gallery and her New York representative, Tina Kim Gallery. Kang’s work drew from centuries-old practices such as Joseon Dynasty painting and 600-year-old musical notation, translating them into highly conceptual, visually seductive sculptures that appeared in biennials worldwide, including Gwangju and Venice, and in museum surveys such as a 2023 show at Seoul’s Leeum Museum of Art. At the time of her death, her largest-ever US exhibition was on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, featuring her "Mountain" series inspired by the traditional Korean style si-seo-hwa.
Kang’s death marks the loss of a distinctive voice in contemporary sculpture who bridged historical Korean aesthetics with global contemporary art. Her work explored humanity’s relationship with nature and the body, often involving performers interacting with her pieces. She gained wider recognition in 2018 after winning Art Basel’s Baloise Art Prize and exhibiting at the Gwangju Biennale. Her practice, rooted in her training at Ewha Womans University and the Royal College of Art, leaves a legacy of innovative, cross-cultural dialogue that resonated with audiences and institutions internationally.