[ About ]Ara Youn is a Korean artist based in the UK. Her oil paintings explore the seen and unseen aspects of contemporary life through anonymity, clothing, everyday objects and subtle gestures. Her background in textile art, fashion and graphic design continues to inform her painting practice.
Ara's work is held in private and commercial collections in the UK, the United States, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Norway.
[ bio ]Background
2022 - Present Full-time Artist
2022- 2025 Textile Artist & Knitwear Designer, ARA STELLA
2018 - 2023 Creative Director & Womenswear Designer, AEIBE London
2010 - 2018 Senior Branding Designer, Samsung Techiwin Europe
Education
2008 M.A Graphic Design, University of the Arts London (LCC), UK
2007 FdA Visual Communication, University of the Arts London (LCC), UK
2004 Communication Design, Samsung Art and Design Institute, Seoul, South Korea
2000 Textile Art, Kyungwon University, Seoul, South Korea
1997 PMJH Art School, South Korea
Exhibitions
2025 Lido Open, The Lido Stores, UK
2025 Do Androids Dream?, Oriel Croesor, UK
2024 BEEP Painting Biennial, Elysium Gallery, UK
Awards
2025 Short-listed, Lido Open, UK
2024 Long-listed, BEEP Painting Biennial, UK
2009 Short-listed, iida Green Communication Design, South Korea
2007 1st Prize, Penguin Book Design Award, UK
Interviews & publications