Hye-Ryeong Seo
Hye-ryeong Seo is an artist born in Changwon, Gyeongnam, who studied Visual Communication Design in Seoul and is currently working in Busan. She earned her BFA from the Department of Visual Communication Design at Hongik University.
Her work focuses on the overlooked, ordinary moments and everyday lives of neighbors amid Korea's rapid societal transformation, combining various mediums such as polymer clay, porcelain clay, and digital 3D modeling. Influenced by the visual language of animations she enjoyed as a child—particularly Studio Ghibli, Disney, and Tooniverse—Seo reimagines ordinary people and places through a cartoon-inspired perspective.
She first introduced characters and animations inspired by her five years observing the people of Hongdae in her graduation exhibition, The Street I Don’t Want to Walk On (2022, Hongik University Visual Communication Design Graduation Exhibition). In 2024, she participated in a group exhibition titled Mokgongpool Workshop: Sabujak Sabujak at Local Stitch Hongdae, where she debuted her miniature sculptures Lotto Stand, Fruit Vendor, and Security Guard Booth. The same year, she was selected for the UNDER39 Art Fair by the Busan Cultural Foundation with the same series. In 2025, she held her solo exhibition titled Neighborhood Folks: Solo Exhibition by Hye-ryeong Seo at Hyundai City Outlet in Daegu, introducing an interactive piece titled Would You Like a Lotto Ticket?.
She continues working on her series of sculptures featuring ordinary Korean "Ajeossi" figures and is preparing to develop some of her graduation exhibition characters into an independent character brand. Seo plans to continue uncovering hidden stories within daily life and expressing them with warmth and humor.
Portfolio
Contact Info: Instagram
