Esther Kim's Mixed-Media Art Evokes Childhood Wonder with Tactile Materials

Esther Kim, a Toronto-based artist, creates vibrant mixed-media pieces that explore childhood and memory with a playful touch. She combines materials like foam clay, charcoal, oil pastels, and even coffee grounds to achieve a textured, three-dimensional look on flat surfaces. Kim's work features "simple, childlike imagery" that reflects how adulthood can stifle imagination and wonder. She aims to inspire viewers to reconnect with feelings of innocence and appreciation for the now. Her art often places familiar objects in unexpected contexts, like a cartoonish bouquet in a doodled vase or Van Gogh in blue Crocs. You can find her prints at Collective Hue and see more of her work on Instagram, where she showcases her creative process.