Seonna Hong was born and raised in Southern California. She graduated with a B.A. in Art from Cal State University Long Beach and continued to hone her craft teaching art to children for several years. Her paintings are quietly narrative and often autobiographical and no doubt influenced by her time teaching as well as her work in TV and Feature animation. In 2004, she received an Emmy Award for Individual Achievement in Production Design for her work on “My Life as a Teenage Robot.” In 2006, she was the recipient of the Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant. Her illustrated book, 'Animus' is in it's third printing and according to Ken Johnson (The New York Times), "... the paintings are beautifully made and the imagery is mysteriously touching". Hong continues to show her work in shows and galleries around the world and is represented by Hashimoto Contemporary in San Francisco.
Brian spoke with Seonna in Manhattan right after her show had just opened at Hashimoto Contemporary in NYC. The gallery, of course, is not open now but you can see her work on the gallery website and follow her on Instagram @seonnahong. This conversation was recorded before the covid outbreak hit full force in NYC. Future recordings of the podcast will happen over the internet and will continue in that format until our very important distancing to help prevent the spread is lifted. It’s essential that we all do our part and we hope these conversations provide some comfort for you all. Supporting creative artists is so essential in these times and the music you are hearing is from Lullatone’s new record with you can get via a pay as you wish download on their bandcamp page.
S&V is sponsored by Frederix Canvas, the New York Studio School and Golden Paints.