New face of Korean ceramics to find spotlight at Seoul Auction

Shin Won-dong's "Moon Jar" (2023) / Courtesy of Seoul Auction

Lim Jae-hyeon's "Pleats Series 'Origami' #3" (2025) / Courtesy of Seoul Auction

Seoul Auction, in partnership with the Korea Ceramic Foundation, is set to host an online sale that shines a spotlight on the expressive possibilities of contemporary Korean ceramics — a medium long overshadowed in the local art market.

Running from Aug. 14 to 20, “The Ceramic” marks the first collaboration between the auction house and the public foundation.

The weeklong auction presents 35 works by seven rising stars who are defining the boundaries of the form: Kwon Hye-in, Shin Won-dong, Yang Ji-woon, Lee Song-am, Lim Jae-hyeon and Jeong Young-yu.

The featured pieces range from modern interpretations of time-honored shapes — “buncheong” stoneware, luminous moon jars and black porcelain — to experimental sculptures created via 3D modeling. At their heart is a shared aim: to reframe ceramics not as relics of the past, but as vessels of bold artistry.

Among the highlights are Kwon’s classical ceremonial vessel-inspired jars and Shin’s organically pleated vases.

For those wishing to witness the works in person, a free preview show will be held from Aug. 15 to 20 at Seoul Auction’s Gangnam Center in southern Seoul. The opening day will also host an artist talk, offering visitors a chance to engage directly with the creators. Attendance is limited and available by advance registration through a link that will go live on Seoul Auction’s social media channels this Friday.

“This collaboration is about widening the role of a public art institution beyond white-cube exhibitions by creating new points of connection between the artists’ oeuvre and the public,” Choi Moon-hwan, CEO of the Korea Ceramic Foundation, said in a statement.