Bio

Hoseok Youn is a South Korean glass artist specializing in glassblowing. Youn holds his B.F.A. degree in glass and ceramic major from Namseoul University, Cheon Ahn, Korea and earned a M.F.A. in glass from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois, USA. Youn has taught at Bowling Green State University as an adjunct professor and was a studio artist at Toledo Museum of Art. He is currently a studio lead at Belger Arts Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Youn’s artistic practice focuses on Venetian traditional glass, figurative sculptures, and photography. He is inspired by pop culture and toys. He mimics the image of people created within the diverse and numerous cultures that have emerged, beyond the complexities and unrealistic nature of modern society and the distortion of tradition, through the fantasy characters made of glass toys. Youn’s work has received various scholarships and awards including Corning Museum of Glass, Pittsburgh Glass Center, Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass, Penland School of Craft, Niijima Glass Center, Pilchuck Glass School, and Glass Art Society. He is 2023 SAXE Emerging Artist Award recipient of Glass Art Society. He was a resident artist at Museum of Glass Tacoma and visiting artist at Hastings College, University Nebraska Kearney, Cheong-ju University, Kookmin University, Namseoul University, and Korea National University of Arts. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, California, Ohio, Michigan, Washington, Indiana, South Korea, China, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom.

Artist Statement

I am interested in toys. I was a single child for long time so I spent the most of my childhood playing with toys, games, and watching science fiction movies. Even as an adult, toys are a big collectible for me and they provide me endless artistic inspiration. In everyday life, toys are usually just playful things. However, toys actually mean and speak of many things. It is closely related to society, history, tradition, culture, religion, art, industry, science, technology, and any kinds of trend of the time. Also, a toy is a unique object that allows any fantasies to exist in reality almost as a real in a three dimensional model. Therefore, toys are more than just toys and make me rethink about the meaning and value of them. To me, glass is another special toy and also a fascinating material for making toys. The Venetian traditional glassware is one of the most brilliant designs that I can transform into anything. Particularly, the goblets made with delicate details and decorations are my favorite shapes with full of playfulness. As a glass artist playing with the traditional techniques, the historical designs, skills, and tools are the important research areas for finding ideas. I disassemble the stemware and traditional glass forms as much as possible and turn them into individual components, and the parts are reconstructed to create my own toys. My works are the figurative form of fantasy characters looking like heroes or villains; as known as BEAST, and their crystal-clear appearance exudes noble and luxurious feelings at the same time as humorous and surrealistic. The BEASTs represent the dystopia and speak of the blind people living in fantasy and competing for success and wealth in contemporary society.

Stop by the Kansas City Woodworkers’ Guild, 1717 Washington (17th & Broadway) to see and buy handcrafted woodworking.

All work is produced by members or the Guild.

Interested in woodworking as a hobby? Stop by for a tour and discounts on membership.