Jong Oh (b. 1981, Mauritania) is a South Korean artist living and working between Seoul and New York.
Jong Oh's artistic practice is quite particular since he does not use a studio but creates minimal sculptures in situ that respond to a given spatial situation. Responding to the nuanced configuration of each site, the artist constructs spatial structures by suspending and interconnecting a limited selection of materials: rope, chains, fishing wire, perspex, wooden and metal rods and painted threads. The elements of the work seem to float, and depending on the spatial relationship of the viewer with it these elements are connected and cross each other or appear as absolutely independent, suggesting additional dimensions to the simple three-dimensional space. Sometimes the threads that suspend these elements are practically invisible and sometimes the artist paints the thread lightly, reinforcing the visual presence of the element. Jong also uses lighting to create his compositions, where real shadows or painted lines by the artist in graphite extend his ethereal structures and favor the effect of optical illusion in a dialogue of lines and planes. His practice defies the traditionally expected assumption in sculpture of dense masses and heavy objects, acting like simple yet complex drawings that point out the particularities of the space they inhabit.
In these paradoxical limits constituted by three-dimensionality and two-dimensionality, consummation and destruction, the spectator's experience becomes a meditation on the whim of human perception. Jong's work is interactive in the sense that the perception and apprehension of each piece by the viewer is achieved only through a deep exploration of it and the negative space resulting from the intervention of the artist.
Oh appeals to the viewer to question their own perception and the way they have to relate to the space that surrounds them, offering a space for meditation and contemplation before the hustle and bustle of contemporary everyday life: a subtle and refined visual haiku about universality and the sound of space.
Jong Oh was born in Mauritania in 1981 and grew up between Spain and South Korea. He currently lives and works in New York, where he graduated in a MFA at the School of Visual Arts after earning his BFA at the Hongik University in Seoul.
Jong has exhibited extensively in the U.S., Korea, Mexico and in Europe. His work belongs to public collections such as the Maxine & Stuart Frankel Foundation in Michigan (US) and the Kablanc Otazu Foundation in Navarra (Spain).
Education
2011
MFA Fine Arts, School of Visual Arts, New York, USA
2008
BFA Sculpture, Hongik University, Seoul, South Korea

Solo shows (selected)
2024
Bending Moment, Lora Reynolds Gallery, Austin, USA
2023
Merestone. Sabrina Amrani. Madrid, Spain.
2022
First Echo. ONE AND J. Gallery. Seoul, South Korea.
2022
Double Sided. CR Collective. Seoul, South Korea.
2021
A Pause on the Arc. Doosan Gallery, Seoul, South Korea.
2021
Wind Rose. Doosan Gallery, New York, USA.
2019
Sunstone. Sabrina Amrani Gallery. Madrid, Spain.
2019
Light and Rock. Mar Straus Gallery (Singapore Art Week). Singapore
2019
Jong Oh. Lora Ryenolds Gallery. Austin, Texas, USA
2018
Corner Dialogue _ Spatial Project. Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA). Seoul, South Korea
2018
Jong Oh.Marc Straus Gallery. New York, USA
2018
Windward. Jochen Hempel Gallery. Berlin, Germany
2018
Lodestar, Sabrina Amrani, Madrid, Spain
2016
Jong Oh, Marc Straus Gallery, New York, USA
2016
Sotto Voce, UCONN Contemporary Art Galleries, Connecticut, USA
2015
Lodestone, Galerie Jochen Hempel, Leipzig, Germany
2015
AIR, Krinzinger Projekte, Vienna, Austria
2014
Lodestone, MARSO, Mexico City, Mexico
2013
Tintinnabulation, Marc Straus Gallery, New York, USA
2013
Jong Oh, Galerie Jochen Hempel, Berlin, Germany
2012
Jong Oh, Marc Straus Gallery, New York, USA
2012
Position, Reposition, Musee Miniscule, Art in General, New York, USA
Group shows (selected)
2024
Unboxing Project 3: Maquette, New Spring Project, Seoul, KR
2024
Nothing But The Night, A Lounge Gallery, Seoul, KR
2024
The First Exhibition Of The Year, Gallery Shilla, Seoul, KR
2023
off-site. Art Sonje Center. Seoul, Korea.
2022
Strange Loop: for Marcel. Seongbuk Young Art Space. Seoul, Korea.
2022
Matter Affect. No·No Gallery. Curated by Susana Ventura. Lisbon, Portugal.
2022
Catorce Relatos Breves. Made in Korea. Rectorado de Cultura, Universidad de Málaga. Málaga, Spain.
2021
Long Story Short. Sabrina Amrani. Madrid, Spain.
2021
Catorce Relatos Breves. Made in Korea. Centro Cultural Casa de Vacas, Madrid, Spain.
2021
As known as. Nook Gallery, Seoul, South Korea.
2021
The Snark: suddenly Vanishing Away. Gallery 2. Seoul, South Korea.
2020
Song Eun Art Awards. Song Eun Art Space, Seoul, South Korea.
2020
Hare Way Object. Art Plant Asia. Deoksugung Palace, Seoul, South Korea.
2020
Ver Versus Ver. Sabrina Amrani Gallery. Madrid, Spain.
2020
Haven of Light.P21, Seoul, South Korea. Curated by Hyejung Jang.
2019
Espace et Tension. Galerie Denise René. Paris, France
2019
How We Live. Hudson Valley Moca. New York, USA
2019
Contemporary Korean Abstract: Series Two. Chapter II. Seoul, South Korea
2019
Geometry, beyond Simplicity. Museum SAN. Wonju, Gangowon, South Korea
2019
Negative Space. ZKM Center for Art and Media Karisruhe. Karisruhe, Germany
2019
Linha Atemporal. Dan Gallery. Sao Paulo, Brazil
2018
Everyday Is A Good Day.Spiral. Tokyo, Japan
2018
Spiele Mit Der Ewigkeit. Grimmuseum. Berlin, Germany
2018
Depot. Jochen Hempel Gallery. Leipzig, Germany
2018
Sculpting With Air.DeCordova Museum. Masachussets, USA
2017
Between I & Thou, Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, New York, USA
2017
The White Heat, Marc Straus Gallery, New York, USA
2017
You Are A Space, nook Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2016
The Global South: Visions and Revisions, Saludarte Foundation, Miami, USA
2016
Dialogue, MARSO, Mexico City, Mexico
2016
The Apotheosis Of The Fish Market, Marc Straus Annex, New York, USA
2015
Spaceliner, ARTER, Istanbul, Turkey
2015
Dealing With Surfaces, GAK, Bremen, Germany
2015
Floating And Sinking, Gallery Factory, Seoul, South Korea
2015
Meeting Point, Korean Cultural Center, Washington DC, USA
2015
Barely There, Lesley Heller Workspace, New York, USA
2015
Gray Would Be The Color, If I Had A Heart., Marc Straus Gallery, New York, USA
2014
Installation View, Nassauischer Kunstverein Wiesbaden, Wiesbaden, Alemania
2014
On What There Might Not Be, Galería Libertad, Querétaro, Mexico
2014
Xigue-Xigue, Marc Straus Gallery, New York, USA
2014
Extending The Line 3D, C. Grimaldis Gallery, Baltimore, USA
2014
Along The Lines, Marc Straus Gallery, New York, USA
2014
On What There Might Not Be, MARSO, Mexico City, Mexico
2013
Superposition: Observing Realities, Trinity Museum, New York, USA
2013
On Deck, Marc Straus Gallery, New York, USA
2013
Tugged, Kabinett, Hannover, Germany
2013
Nothing and Everything, Marc Straus Gallery, New York, USA
2012
8 Artsits Making Sculpture, BRIC, New York, USA
2012
The Itinerary of Mobility and Translation, Korean Cultural Service, New York, USA
2012
Divided By Zero, Artgate Gallery, New York, USA
2012
Home, The Willows, New York, USA
2011
First Look III, Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, New York, USA
2011
Status! Status! Status!, Interstate Projects, New York, USA
2011
Imprecise Geometry, 308 at 156 Project Artspace, New York, USA
2011
Fragmentation, Stephan Stoyanov Gallery, New York, USA
2011
Urban Legend, Vaudeville Park, New York, USA
2010
Subtle Anxiety, Doosan Gallery, New York, USA
2010
More and Less, SVA Gallery, New York, USA
2009
Base Station 51-18, Orange Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2009
Mr. Gubo's Studio, Gyoha Art Center, Paju, South Korea
2008
Wild Artist Sanctuary, Soop Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2007
The Memory of Earth,Jebiwool Museum, Gwacheon, South Korea
2007
Canada Cool Connected, Embassy of Canada, Seoul, South Korea
2007
Your Bag & My Bag, 13.1 Gallery, Seoul, South Korea

Art Fairs
2024
Art Basel Hong Kong. Sabrina Amrani. Hong Kong.
2023
ARCOlisboa. Sabrina Amrani. Lisbon, Portugal.
2023
Art Basel Hong Kong. Sabrina Amrani. Hong Kong, China.
2021
ARCOmadrid. Sabrina Amrani. Madrid, Spain.
2019
viennacontemporary. Sabrina Amrani. Vienna, Austria.
2019
Art Basel Hong Kong. Sabrina Amrani. Hong Kong, China.
2019
ARCOmadrid. Sabrina Amrani. Madrid, Spain.
2019
India Art Fair. Sabrina Amrani. New Delhi, India.
2018
Artissima. Sabrina Amrani. Turin, Italy.
2018
ARCOlisboa. Sabrina Amrani. Lisbon, Portugal.
2018
ARCOmadrid. MARSO. Madrid, Spain.
2017
Art Brussels. Marc Straus. Brussels, Belgium.
2017
ARCOmadrid. Marc Straus. Madrid, Spain.
2016
Artissima. MARSO. Torino, Italy.
2016
Expo Chicago. Marc Straus. Chicago, USA.
2015
Artissima. MARSO. Torino, Italy.
2014
Zona MACO. MARSO. Mexico City. Mexico.

Grants, Awards & Residencies
2021
Doosan Residency. Yonkang Foundation, New York, USA.
2021
Song Eun Art Awards Finalist, Song Eun Art and Cultural Foundation, Seoul, South Korea.
2019
El Nucleo Residency. El Espinar, Segovia, Spain
2019
CCA Residency. CCA Andratx. Mallorca, Spain
2016
MARSO Residency, MARSO, Mexico City, Mexico
2014
Krinzinger Residency, Krinzinger Projekte, Vienna, Austria
2014
Peekskill Waterfornt Project, New York, USA
2012
Swing Space Residency, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New York, USA
2012
Grant for Artist in Residence Abroad Program, Arts Council Korea, Seoul, South Korea

Public collections
Colección Alma Colectiva. Guadalajara, Mexico.
National Gallery of Victoria. Melbourne, Australia.
Maxine & Stuart Frankel Foundation. Michigan, US.
Kablanc Otazu Foundation. Navarra, Spain.
Santa Barbara Art Museum. California, US.
Songeun Art and Cultural Foundation. Seoul, South Korea.

Bibliography
Visual Haikus Giving Shape to Space, Tulika B., On Art And Aesthetics – 2017.
The Apotheosis of the Fish Market at Marc Straus Annex, Jonathan Goodman, Whitehot Magazine – 2017.
Artseen, Taney Roniger, The Brooklyn Rail – 2016.
Luminous Visibility, Robert C. Morgan, World Sculpture News Magazine – 2016.
10 Things to Do in New York's Art World Before February 8, Paul Laster, OBSERVER – 2016.
Jong Oh's Shapes of Perturbation at Marc Straus Gallery, Matilde Soligno, Droste Effect – 2016.
Galleries: Big Brother Is Watching, Mark Jenkins, The Washington Post – 2015.
Arter's New Exhibition Focuses On Lines And Drawings, Kaya Genc, Daily Sabah – 2015.
O생각한다 '흑인이고에스파뇰이고한국인이고혼자동시그들모두', 빙앤띵, being and thing – 2015.
Cage Match, Kevin McGarry, ARTFORUM – 2014.
Jong Oh En Marso Galería De Arte Contemporáneo, JF Huerta, ARTINDF – 2014.
La Crítica: Casi Nada, Lorenzo Rocha, Milenio – 2014.
Berlin's Best, 2013, Travis Jeppesen, Art in America – 2013.
Berlin Art Weekend 2013. Focus Su Jong Oh e Oscar Murillo, Valentina Galossi, ARTNOISE – 2013.
Top 10 NYC Artists Now, Katie Cercone, REVOLT Magazine – 2013.
Artseen, Robert C. Morgan, The Brooklyn Rail – 2012.
LMCC hosts open studio weekend at Governor's Island Arts Center, Jennifer Eberhart, Examiner – 2012.
The Voices Emerging From College Studios, Susan Hodara, The New York Times – 2011.
City Life Becomes Art in New Exhibit, Tara Kyle, DNAinfo New York – 2010.