Biography

Jun Yang (he/they) is a queer Korean artist whose practice is rooted in resilience, healing, and the search for belonging. Born and raised in Seoul, Jun’s journey has taken them across Dublin, Ireland, Belgium, and France before finding home in San Francisco, a city that has profoundly shaped their identity and creative voice. As a self-taught artist, Jun’s path has been marked by challenges: institutional rejection, the absence of formal academic validation, and the struggle of carving space as a queer immigrant artist. Yet, each setback has only deepened their commitment to transformation through art.

Jun’s work spans painting, murals, and textile sculptures, drawing from personal histories of trauma, grief, and cultural displacement. Over the years, their practice has shifted toward celebrating POC queer bodies, creating works that serve as acts of visibility, reclamation, and care. Their fabric sculptures are tender yet powerful, invite touch and interaction, allowing viewers to engage physically and emotionally. With elongated limbs and fluid forms, these pieces symbolize both the longing for connection and the strength of community bonds.

Jun merges art with activism, using their practice to advocate for LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights. Their work not only highlights the power of inclusivity and chosen family but also confronts the realities of marginalization. Through curatorial projects, public art installations, and mentorship, they actively create spaces for underrepresented voices, amplifying AAPI, queer, and women artists.

Jun has received recognition, a 2024 SECA nominee by SFMOMA, a recipient of the SFAC Visual Art Grant, and a selected artist in the Pro Arte’s Apapacho AIR in CDMX and Public Works Residency Program. Their first museum solo exhibition at the Bakersfield Museum of Art, and their work has been featured at the De Young Museum, Kunsthaus Graz, MOCA Taipei, Kuandu Biennale, and the Consulate General of Korea. Their art has also been highlighted by KQED Arts and the Gay Asian Pacific Islander Alliance, among others.

Through every challenge, Jun remains dedicated to creating spaces of healing and visibility. Their work is not just about personal expression, it is an offering, a bridge, and a sanctuary for those who have felt unseen. Their journey is an open invitation to witness transformation through art, to challenge exclusion, and to reimagine what it means to belong.