Samantha Yun Wall has opened her first major solo museum exhibition, "What We Leave Behind," at the Seattle Art Museum. The show features her large-scale, black-and-white drawings that explore identity, family, and Korean folklore through surreal, portal-like imagery.
The exhibition is a direct result of Yun Wall winning the museum's 2024 Betty Bowen Award, a $20,000 grant and solo show opportunity for Pacific Northwest artists. The artist credits the award with saving her career, arriving at a time of financial strain and reigniting her practice. The show highlights the significant impact regional artist awards can have in providing visibility and crucial support to sustain an artistic career.