Growing up amidst noise and instability, my paintings seek to capture those fleeting, suspended moments when a subject is neither active nor reactive, existing in the quiet space in between. It is here, beyond the clamour, that I find a raw authenticity, a glimpse of their true identity, complete with its imperfections – what I see as an 'beautiful ugliness.' Through expressive strokes I evoke complex narratives about identity, inviting my viewer to chat with me and the sitter. I am exploring how visual elements within my work can conjure up the viewer’s imagination allowing them to consider the nuanced reality of this sitter in their moment of stillness.

This interest in the unvarnished truth of a moment connects with my fascination with human resilience. Our identities are forged through both triumphs and traumas, leading to a unique blend of strength and vulnerability. It's this very process that fuels the human ability to endure and grow for better or worse.

As a mixed-race individual who experienced a sense of not fully belonging in Australia, America, or Korea, I developed a perspective of a detached observer. This vantage point allows me to approach my subjects with a degree of distance, enabling a deeper exploration of identity. My paintings, in their focus on these in-between moments, are a personal quest to understand belonging through the lens of individual identity, seeking to find connection in the quiet and authentic.

BIO

Courtney Jinsook Bae (Australian, b.1986) is a mixed race Korean-American artist whose work is both provocative and invigorating. Her fearless exploration of perspective and her play with the human form leaves viewers energised and curious.

As a child Bae was inspired by her father's expressive Chinese brushstroke paintings, which is why Bae's artistic journey began in gouache watercolour. After formal training in Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Bae's career took shape in the world of luxury fashion, where she gained experience at renowned brands such as Prada, Miu Miu, and Burberry. This background had a significant impact on her creative style and continues to inspire her.

Over time Bae has become more commonly recognised for her large-scale oil paintings that seamlessly blend abstract figurative and expressionist elements. Bae exhibits her work globally and accepts commissions.

A versatile artist, Bae thrives in the dynamic world of creative commercial marketing. She embraces the opportunity to push creative boundaries and explore diverse mediums.

Bae has won multiple juried awards and exhibited in New York, London, and Europe at various galleries including: Saatchi Gallery London, Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York; Bermondsey Project Space, London; Sweet Art, London; Dacia Gallery, New York; Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn; and Candid Arts Trust, London amongst others. The artist lives and works in London.