Hyeyoung Shin: Epiphany

About the Exhibition: Epiphany

In Epiphany, artist Hyeyoung Shin presents a selection of new works alongside earlier pieces inspired by moments of recognition, realization, and appreciation in her life as an artist, mother, and woman. For Shin, each work included in this exhibition contributes to a personal life landscape—one shaped by awe-filled revelations as well as darker, more uncertain transitions. These moments, often brought on by unforeseen challenges, have shifted her perspective and direction, both personally and artistically.

Shin’s creative practice explores the embodied memory of existence and how spatial experiences are retained and communicated through visual form. Her work is often intimate and emotionally resonant, reflecting a deep respect for what it means to be human. Through self-reflection, her pieces aim to cultivate empathy and a sense of connection with others, offering viewers a space for shared contemplation. At its core, her artwork embraces the complexities and beauty of humanity.

A strong commitment to traditional techniques—including proportional drawing, printmaking, papermaking, and casting—anchors Shin’s work within a lineage of historical craft. She favors materials such as graphite, colored pencils, ink pens, and a range of handmade and found papers, all of which carry psychological and philosophical resonance in her process. Paper, in particular, holds special meaning for Shin. Trained as a printmaker, book artist, and paper sculptor, she draws on childhood experiences in Korea, where paper was more than a surface for mark-making—it was also used for sculptural and architectural purposes. To her, paper is not merely a medium but a cultural vessel, capable of holding memory and experience much like human skin.

About the Artist: Hyeyoung Shin

Hyeyoung Shin is a project-based multimedia artist and educator whose artwork seeks to create a space for shared experiences. Shin received Master of Fine Art from University at Buffalo, and two BFAs in Printmaking and Painting from Hong-Ik University and Kyoung-Sung University in Korea. Her practice is deeply rooted in the exploration of complex human emotions, with a particular focus on vulnerability, isolation, and the search for belonging. Her commitment to traditional techniques, including proportional drawing, printmaking, and papermaking/casting, fosters a meaningful connection between her practices and their history. Her artworks have been exhibited in numerous national and international venues through both group and solo exhibitions, including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, the Witherspoon Museum, the Kennedy Museum of Art, the Janet Turner Print Museum, the Seoul Museum of Art, Jinchon Museum of Printmaking, and many others.

Hyeyoung Shin is the recipient of the 2024 Exhibition Award granted from GoggleWorks’ 16th Annual National Juried Art Exhibition.

Hyeyoung Shin’s Portfolio Website