Courtney Jinsook Bae (Australian, b. 1986) is a Korean-American artist based in London and the daughter of artist Sangki Bae. Working primarily in oils and gouache watercolour, her practice is defined by a striking dualism: highly art-directed portraiture stands alongside imaginative figurative works that often depict visceral, deeply felt experiences.
Bae's expressive, stylised pieces are celebrated for their unflinching communication of vulnerability and shame, often through an exposed and seemingly raw portrayal of the human form. Her exploration focuses on the complex relationship between trauma and resilience, examining how these forces shape human identity within the context of consciousness and dualism.
Bae's career highlights include solo exhibitions in London and New York. Her work has been shown at prestigious venues, including the Saatchi Gallery in London, The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, and Denise Bibro Fine Art in New York. She was also featured as a Semi-finalist on the national television series, Sky Portrait Artist of the Year, Series 12.
PRIZES
3rd Place, Women United Art Prize 2025
Highly Commended, Homiens Art Prize 2025
SOLO
Growth, New Ashgate Gallery, Surrey 2026 (upcoming)
Forgetting Recollection, Bermondsey Project Space, London 2021
Concrete, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn 2016
The Mood, Early Edition, Brooklyn 2016
GROUP
Works On Paper 2026, The Gallery at Green & Stone, London 2026 (upcoming)
Marks of Reflection, Noho Galleries, London 2025 (upcoming)
Barbican Artworks Open, London 2025
The Dorset Open, Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, Dorchester 2025
Semi-finalist, Sky Portrait Artist of the Year, UK 2025
Summer Show, The Gallery at Green & Stone, London 2025
Self Portrait Art Prize, Ruth Borchard 2025
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham 2025
Extended Longlist, Jackson’s Art Prize, 2025
Saatchi Gallery, London 2022
Art Number 23, Athens 2020
Ferens Gallery, Hull 2020
Candid Arts Trust, London 2019
Fusion V, London 2019
We Art Sweet Art, London 2018
Dacia Gallery, New York 2016
Site Gallery, Brooklyn 2016
Friday Studio, Brooklyn 2016
Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York 2016
MEDIA COVERAGE
Cass Art Blog 2025
Women United Art Prize 2025 Shortlist (final still pending)
Behind the Artist 2025
Surrey World 2025
Art By Artists 2025