Korean American artist exhibits 'Along the LOVE Road' series in Seoul, Buyeo
Sungmo Cho's 2014 oil on canvas art piece, titled "Along the LOVE Road," shows various objects and scenes divided and intersected by roads. Courtesy of Sungmo Cho
By Bereket Alemayehu
New York-based Korean American visual artist Sungmo Cho is returning to his homeland after 14 years, bringing his artworks to exhibit at various galleries across the country.
Having moved to New York in 1992, his path has been one of adaptation and transformation. His creative works reflect a lifelong reflection on humanity, shaped by migration, memory and a deep connection to nature.
The contrast between Korean and American cultures has profoundly shaped Cho’s artistic identity. He has exhibited widely, with more than 30 solo shows in New York, Korea and Japan, in addition to over 150 group shows in four countries.
“Like many immigrants, it’s not easy to live as an artist. You have to work, and everything feels unfamiliar — the culture, the language, even daily life,” he told The Korea Times.
Artist Sungmo Cho poses in central Seoul's Insa-dong neighborhood, May 1. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
He recalls the early years as challenging. Yet, over time, he learned to navigate and embrace the differences between Korean society's collectivist nature and American individualism, gradually forming a dual identity that he now carries with ease.
“In America, people don’t care what you wear or what you do; they respect your space,” he said.
This contrast did not create conflict within him; rather, it expanded his perspective. He describes himself as naturally adaptable, able to absorb and respect different cultural environments while maintaining his Korean identity.
Before emigrating, Cho’s work in Korea focused heavily on the theme of civilization. Living through a period of rapid industrialization, he observed how quickly urban environments were transforming, and how that transformation often came at a cost.
“Everything was changing so fast, neighborhoods were demolished, and I felt that something human was being lost. The world was becoming colder,” he said.
His early paintings reflected these concerns, exploring the tension between development and the erosion of human connection. Roads, buildings and industrial imagery became symbols of both progress and destruction. However, his move to the United States marked a turning point. Encountering vast landscapes, greenery and a slower rhythm of life, especially in upstate New York, Cho experienced nature in a way he never had before.
“I saw so many trees, green grass — it was something I had never experienced in Korea at that time,” he said.
This immersion in nature shifted his artistic focus. Where once he painted civilization, he now began painting the natural world.
Sungmo Cho's 2018 oil painting, titled "Along the LOVE Road, Snowing Otterkill Rd" / Courtesy of Sungmo Cho
As his many paintings depict, the road represents civilization’s product, from the beginning of recorded history until now. “Roads were made for the convenience of man and to economize our time. However, it was obvious that nature was being destroyed for our causes. Those are the two sides of the road," he wrote in an artist's statement.
This realization gave way to one of Cho’s most significant bodies of work, the LOVE Road series. The concept evolved gradually. In his earlier paintings, roads symbolized division, separating nature from human development, convenience from destruction. Over time, however, the road transformed into a symbolic journey.
Sungmo Cho's 2018 acrylic and mixed media on canvas, titled "Along the LOVE Road, Schunemunk Mt. with Red Moon," shows a road sign and a tree in front of the moon. Courtesy of Sungmo Cho
In 2009, he moved upstate and founded Sarang Mountain, a private, nonprofit art site in Monroe, New York, used as a natural and creative retreat for artistic work.
“When I was young, I felt nature was mysterious and beautiful," he said. "In the mountains, I felt that again."
Today, Cho sees his work as carrying an urgent message. In a rapidly advancing world shaped by technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and increasing disconnection, he worries that humanity is losing touch with its emotional core.
“We are living with AI and machines, but if we lose our human mind, our sense of love, we risk losing our humanity itself," he said.
Through his art, he seeks to remind viewers of what truly matters. Love, peace and coexistence are not abstract ideals, but essential values that must be actively preserved. He hopes that when people encounter his work, it can serve as a quiet but powerful reminder. “If someone is struggling, maybe they look at my painting and remember love," he said. "Maybe they take a breath, and something changes. What humans need most is love.”
Sungmo Cho's mixed media on canvas art piece, titled "The Garden with Full Moon" (2009), from his "Along the LOVE Road" series. Courtesy of Sungmo Cho
“Along the LOVE Road” is at Topohaus Total Art Gallery in central Seoul's Insa-dong from May 13 to 19, and at Buyeo Cultural Center in South Chungcheong Province from May 29 to June 4. On May 23, he will be at the Ureuk World Music House in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, for an art exhibit and talk.
Visit sungmocho.com for more information.
Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He’s also the co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative, and a freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency.