About Serena
My Story
Born in Seoul, South Korea, I am an artist with over 30 years of experience in printmaking, painting, studio work, and teaching. After obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts, my artistic journey evolved, especially from 2000 onwards, reflecting themes of life, hope, and cherished memories. I have served as President of the Hanmee Artists’ Association (2015-2016), supporting the Washington DC metro art community and immigrant children through fundraising, events, and donations.
With over three decades of teaching experience in both South Korea and the U.S., I have instructed at church-run adult schools, language schools, and my own art institute. My exhibitions include 5 solo shows, 4 art fairs, and over 70 group exhibitions, including "Andante" in 2023, featuring inspiring works by my students in their 70s. I have received multiple awards, including recognition at the Korea National Art Festival and the Korea’s New Grand Art Festival. In 2008, I was named Artist of the Month by The Gazette newspaper in Maryland. I currently reside in Silver Spring, Maryland, where my studio is located.
About
‘Calm Comfort Encapsulated on a Solid Canvas’ – The Narratives and Inner Landscapes Created by the Accidental Flow of Liquid Paint –
The works of artist Serena Yeo are both familiar and solid. This is due to her continuous exploration and evolution of materiality. A white canvas begins with lines created by flowing liquid paint. Through a repetitive and painstaking process, the liquid hardens. Based on the random composition of various lines and textures, paint is then layered on top. The unique, three-dimensional surface that distinctly reveals the properties of the materials is Serena Yeo's signature style.
The pieces within the Four Seasons series depict the passage of time in the artist’s life, with the repeated juxtaposition of yellow and green. Reflections of forgotten stories and unconscious quests for origins in her life abroad are revealed in Green, Green with its colors and surface reminiscent of traditional blue-and-white porcelain with inlaid patterns. The repetitive and arduous process of the artist’s work is expressed through her continuous composition style in Introspection, a solo exhibition by Yeo in Seoul, South Korea. Her paintings are not merely fixed moments; the passing wind and the fresh scent of the forest awaken dormant sensory perception, inviting the viewer to look inward. The artist draws out stories, narrates the flowing passage of time, and presents a landscape.
Serena Yeo's art is born through the presence of bold and distinct colors that emerge on unpredictable and imperfect surfaces. This unique artistic world has been clearly constructed as her own, a realm that cannot be expressed through language. If one discovers peace and comfort within the painted expanse, where crystallized forms of materials and colors gently weave their quiet embrace, then the painting has fulfilled its truest purpose, its mission complete.
Currently, artist Serena Yeo resides in the United States. She served as the President of the Washington Art Association and continues her work as a member. She is also actively involved in community service and talent donations. Her artist signature is "Serena," inspired by Saint Serena, the patron saint of healing. Through her art, Serena Yeo hopes to heal and comfort many people.
Written by Lee Soon-hee, Art Columnist