Yeji Jeon, Painter

Yeji Jeon (b. 1993, Seoul, Korea) is a Seoul-based painter whose work explores personal narratives of identity, memory, and belonging through figurative and symbolic imagery.

She received her BFA in Illustration Design from ArtCenter College of Design, Pasadena, and her MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art, London. In 2025, she was selected through an open call to present the solo exhibition "Take Your Time" at Unit 1 Gallery | Workshop, London. Her work has been presented internationally, including exhibitions in Seoul, London, Paris, and Hong Kong.

"Through the process of documenting my life, I reminisce and share with others."

Through documenting my life, I reflect on my memories and share them with others. Having lived and studied in the United States, Korea, and the United Kingdom, I am deeply drawn to observing and comparing different cultures. This curiosity is rooted in my desire to embrace each culture and weave it into my identity. By observing people closely, I integrate even the smallest cultural nuances, which become part of who I am. My art expresses this ongoing journey of integration and self-discovery.

Flowers play a central role in my work. They grow and bloom beautifully within their given moments, shaped by season and environment, symbolizing the phases of my own life as I have taken root in different countries and sought to flourish in each one. The flowers in my paintings are rendered in bold, vibrant colours that reflect the diversity of my experiences. Rather than focusing on one dominant colour, I embrace every detail, ensuring that no moment is overlooked. Through colour, I convey that even the smallest experiences hold meaning and value.

I often describe my work as a visual diary. In the fast pace of daily life, we easily forget or overlook moments worth remembering. Over time, our memories fade, and we begin to describe our past experiences in blurred terms like “it was just okay.” To preserve these experiences, I capture even the briefest and most joyful details, such as moments of laughter, through my art. Although diaries are often private, I choose to share mine to build connections and deepen memories. Through approachable and visually engaging work, I invite viewers to relate to my experiences with comfort and familiarity.

My work serves as both self-consolation and gratitude for the memories and lessons gained from life across cultures. Through my work, I seek to reveal beauty in everyday moments, evoke courage for new beginnings, and nurture warmth through shared stories.

Jeon Yeji's paintings can be seen as a personal plea for an ideal world that we can all share. His works, filled entirely with flowers and plants, represent a world of pure innocence. The moment you encounter his paintings, your eyes are delighted, emotions are enriched, and a warm feeling envelops your heart. Even though the landscapes feature familiar flowers and plants that we see or might have seen in everyday life, they come across as if we are seeing a new world for the first time. This is because these paintings embody only pure and innocent emotions, distinct from the realities of everyday life. - Shin Hangseop (Art Critic)