ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

John Hyen Lee's debut solo show at Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery

exhibition · 2026-05-17

In New York, the Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery is showcasing John Hyen Lee's inaugural solo exhibition. This display includes fresh paintings that delve into the themes of repetitive mark-making and layered gestures, inspired by the Korean writing system, Hangul. Lee conceptualizes language as a palette of paint, where successive marks represent the process of memorizing forms. Through a continual cycle of application and erasure, letters fade into abstraction, framing painting as both a remembrance and a loss. Additionally, the artist meticulously crafts the wooden panels that underpin his works, highlighting his profound connection to woodworking, a passion sparked by his father, who constructed their family home.

Key facts

  • Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery is presenting the exhibition.
  • This is John Hyen Lee's first solo show at the gallery.
  • The exhibition features new works by John Hyen Lee.
  • Lee's paintings explore repeated mark-making and layered gestures.
  • The work draws from the structure of the Korean writing system Hangul.
  • Lee handcrafts the wooden panels used as painting grounds.
  • Lee's father built their family home, inspiring his interest in woodworking.
  • The exhibition is in New York.

Entities

Artists

  • John Hyen Lee

Institutions

  • Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery

Locations

  • New York
  • United States

Sources