Kim Byungkwan

Kim Byungkwan has taken the familiar Disney characters of our childhood and reinvented them in his own unique style.

He tears up existing images – metaphorically and literally – and from this process of destruction, creates a new way of looking at each iconic character. His aim is to encourage us to expand our vision and forget our viewing ‘habits’, opening our minds to a new way of seeing the world around us.

Born in Seoul in South Korea, Byungkwan grew up in a thriving urban setting whose cultural scene was becoming one of the most exciting and dynamic in the world. He studied Fine Art at Hansung University of Seoul and has pursued an artistic career ever since he graduated. Since enjoying a series of sell out shows across South Korea, he has built a strong collector base across Europe and the USA, and he has undertaken successful collaborations with musicians and fashionistas on album and magazine covers.

Despite their contemporary feel, Byungkwan’s playful and distinctive paintings are created in the traditional medium of oil on canvas with the addition of a heavy varnish giving them a high impact clarity and brightness. He is captivated by the work of Rembrandt and the masters of the Baroque era, and this comes across in the beautifully rendered colours and shadows. Alongside this we see the influence of international pop art and Korean popular culture which, he says, brings safety and comfort to an often difficult and confusing world.