The Colors of Korea

1^st annual KAAW( Korean-American Artists Association of Washington State) Art Exhibition at APCC

Exhibition Duration: July 6–31 2026​

Reception: Thursday, July 9, 5–7 PM

About KAAW

Founded in 1989, KAAW represents over 40 established and emerging Korean American artists across the Pacific Northwest. For more than 35 years, the organization has played a vital role in enriching the region’s cultural landscape through exhibitions, community arts programming, and cross-cultural exchange that highlight Korean American identity and artistic voices. KAAW artists work across a wide range of mediums—including painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, mixed media, digital art, and traditional Korean forms—offering galleries and museums a diverse and dynamic body of contemporary work grounded in both cultural heritage and innovation. Each year, KAAW organizes juried exhibitions and thematic shows that explore Korean American perspectives and diaspora narratives. Recent highlights include the 2025 annual exhibition at the Seattle Convention Center, which engaged a broad public audience and received strong community response. The organization also leads juried competitions such as A Story of Korea from Your Heart (2021) and the Korean Wave Art Competition (2024), reflecting its curatorial vision and commitment to contemporary cultural dialogue. Beyond exhibitions, KAAW actively supports arts education and community engagement through artist workshops, youth programs, and collaborations with the Korean Consulate in Seattle. Longstanding initiatives—including student art competitions and the Johsel Namkung Scholarship—demonstrate its ongoing commitment to cultural exchange and emerging artists. KAAW welcomes opportunities to collaborate with galleries and museums interested in presenting innovative Korean American art. The organization is well positioned to curate exhibitions, participate in cultural festivals, support community programming, and contribute to projects that highlight Asian American and diaspora perspectives.  

Artist: Bella Kim    

White Landscape,.  

16 H × 30 W × 17 D in, 

Recycled materials.

2026

Artist: Kelly Haejung Paik

Jogakbo: Colors Within Green  

 Acrylic on Canvas  

30 × 20 × 1.5 in

2026

Artist: Won Jun Kim

Window

36X36

Digital Illustration

2026

Curator Statement

The Korean American Artists of Washington (KAAW) begins its first annual group exhibition at APCC this year. With the opening of the newly constructed APCC building in August 2025, the Jade Choe Gallery has become an important space for Korean American artists in Washington State. Starting this year, KAAW will present a yearly group exhibition in this gallery.

This milestone was made possible through the dedication and support of Patsy Surh O’Connell, the founder of APCC, a Korean American artist, and a member of KAAW. Her vision and commitment played a significant role in making this first exhibition a reality. It is exciting to consider how the colors of Korea will be received and interpreted by the diverse communities of the Asia Pacific region here in the Pacific Northwest.

This exhibition highlights Korean colors and the emotions embedded within them. The artists express their inner worlds through these colors, revealing both personal identity and cultural memory. Living in Washington State, these Korean American artists reinterpret traditional Korean color palettes in their own unique ways, sharing their intentions, emotions, and cultural roots through their work.

Visitors are invited to take their time in the gallery, observing each piece closely. Through these works, we hope audiences will gain a deeper understanding of Korean history, the meaning behind its traditional colors, and the heartfelt expressions the artists bring to this exhibition.

Kellis Parlett 

Gallery Curator