Kim Yun Shin (b. 1935), a first-generation Korean female sculptor who showcased active international activities last year, was named one of the ‘Most Influential Artists of 2024’ by the global art platform Artsy.

In 2024, Kim gained dual representation at Lehmann Maupin and Kukje Gallery, laying the groundwork for her international career and support network. Lehmann Maupin debuted Kim’s work at Frieze L.A. in February last year. Since then, the artist has become a mainstay at art fairs around the world, featured in major booths at KIAF, Frieze Seoul, and Art Basel Miami Beach, among others.

Artsy explained that Kim, who had been working in painting and wood sculpture for over 60 years, dramatically emerged in the global art scene at the age of 88 last year, particularly standing out at the 60th Venice Biennale.

Focusing on the theme of unity with nature, Kim showcased four wood sculptures created between 1979 and 1986, and four stone sculptures made between 1991 and 2001 at the Venice Biennale last year. These works are part of her ongoing series Add Two Add One, Divide Two Divide One (合二合一 分二分一), which she began exploring in the late 1970s. The sculptures reflect her artistic process of adding her spirit to the materials and dividing the space to create a unified artwork.

The list also includes artists such as Julie Mehretu, Jeffrey Gibson, Isabella Ducrot, Maurizio Cattelan, Alvaro Barrington, Joan Jonas, Steve McQueen, Jasleen Kaur, and Shahzia Sikander. Artsy stated that the selection criteria considered not just what they did within the walls of the gallery but their social impact.

References

• Artsy, The Most Influential Artists of 2024, 2024.12.20

Ji Yeon Lee has been working as an editor for the media art and culture channel AliceOn since 2021 and worked as an exhibition coordinator at samuso (now Space for Contemporary Art) from 2021 to 2023.