If you haven’t seen our Featured Artist in the Reading Court please take time to stop by before the month is over!
After noticing a painting on Mad Men a few years ago, Justin Kim was drawn in to the world of abstraction and Abstract painting. He realized he wanted to paint without boundaries or protocols. During this time, he befriended an artist named Robert Ogata by going to his studios during Art Hop Nights. Justin had no idea who Robert was or what he had done, he just knew that he liked his abstract paintings and yearned to learn what he knew. Inspired by his curiosity, Robert became a mentor to Justin.
On a trip to Portland, Oregon with his girlfriend, Justin attended a gallery show by the painter Jenny Gray. He was impressed by her work and wanting to learn more, he requested a meeting. They met and talked and Justin was given a studio tour. Ms. Gray inspired Justin to continue with his painting and they still remain in touch.
Since then, Justin has started to find his own style of painting and realizes that he much prefers the clean cut appearance in paintings over unkempt appearances. He keeps painting and has had two solo shows: one at CMAC and another at Robert Ogata’s studio in Fresno during 2014 and 2015. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of making it as a painter, and currently is enrolled in the MFA program at CSU, Northridge. This show at Altadena Library is his first solo show in Los Angeles.