My sculptural forms grow out of the human figure, costume and the natural landscape, often merging together to reveal spiritual meaning, something I realized through meditating on the five Natural Elements. The heavens, the Milky Way, sunrays, clouds and fire, waterfalls and streaks of rain inspire me as elements of spiritual landscape and the resulting work evokes deeply subjective experiences, dream states and memories. In using the language of sculpture I make diverse associations to express my feelings about the mystery of life and existence, depicting the humanity's harmonious relationship with the universe. Combining the human figure with nature intrigued me, coinciding as it does with the spiritual understanding that nature and I are one. We are nature. This concept has a great impact on my work.
My sculptures begin with drawings, then I look for a medium that would best express and translate the idea into 3D forms. For this reason, drawing has always been an important foundation of my work. My goal for drawing was to have an inner experience of total freedom and to get into free association with my imaginary world. I draw from my memories and inner feelings and not from what I see.
Artist Biography
Won Choi's works have been exhibited nationwide and internationally at such institutions as James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, PA; the Janos Pannonios University Museum in Pecs, Hungary; the Carspeckon-Scott Gallery in Wilmington, DE; Stanek Gallery in Philadelphia, PA; the Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA' the Grounds for Healing at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton, NJ. Her works are in public collections - Widener University in Wilmington, DE and Park Towne Place in Philadelphia, PA. She was selected for a residency at the Atelier Fourwinds in Aureille France. She works and resides in Philadelphia, PA.
Education
1990 - 1995 New York University, New York, NY Fine Arts Department, Doctoral Program for Studio Art
1985 Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY MFA, Metalsmithing & Sculpture
Awards & Honors
2016 Chicago Sculpture Exhibit, Chicago, IL Honorarium
2003 James A. Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, PA Honorarium
2003 Leeway Foundation, Philadelphia, PA Window of Opportunity Award
1999 Leeway Foundation, Philadelphia, PA Window of Opportunity Award
Collection
2016 Park Towne Place, Philadelphia, PA
1999 Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, DE
Professional Experience
2019 90th Phillips' Mill Art Show, New Hope, PA Juror
2018 Widener University, Wilmington, DE Slide Show Lecture for People to People Delaware
2010 Atelier Fourwinds, Aureille, France Residency
Exhibitions
Solo
2017 Heaven is the Limit, Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, Philadelphia, PA
2003 - 2004 Dance of Five Natural Elements, James A. Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, PA
Group
2018 Themes and Variation, Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, Philadelphia, PA
Visiting Curator Exhibition, CFEVA, Philadelphia, PA
2016 Reinterpreting Landscape and Nature, Stanek Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2015 - 2016 Sculpture Walk, Sioux Falls, SD
2013 - 2015 University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
2013 - 2014 Sculpture Tour, Eau Claire, WI
2013 Cedarhurst Biennial Sculpture Competition and Maquette Exhibition, Cedarhurst Sculpture Park and Mitchell Museum at Cedarhurst Center for the Art, Mt. Vernon, IL
2006 - 2009 The Sculpture Mile at Madison, New Alliance Bank Courtyard, Madison, CT
2005 - 2009 Grounds for Healing at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, in partnership with Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ
2005 - 2007 The Sculpture Mile at Madison, Wachovia Bank, Madison, CT
2004 2nd Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, New Hope, PA
2002 Critic's Choice, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA Juror: Gerrit Henry
2000 Five Philadelphia Sculptors, Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA
