Anna Cho

Hee Won Cho (Anna Cho) (b.1996, Seoul) is an artist based in New York and Seoul. She received her BFA in Studio Art with a concentration in painting from New York University in 2019. She is inspired by conventional settings, nature, and objects. Focusing on the subtle beauty and overlooked details in her pieces, Cho uses vivid and pastel colors that contrast with reality along with a personification of special characters or scenes. Nothing is truly monumental in these artworks; rather, they illustrate the emotional eventfulness caused by small changes and interruptions in our daily lives. There are no black or white situations, but only lingering hazy, dreamlike moments.

The pieces are based on assemblages of sporadic short story entries edited throughout the progression of each series. The stories all include whimsical elements, such as the portrayal of animals as main protagonists and supernatural events. Also, the value of lasting kinship between the characters is always present. Through the translation of the text into the artworks, Cho hopes to rekindle the appreciation for the uniqueness of the everyday surroundings and connections. However, her works are not just a longing for the past; rather, they serve as a reminder to take a step back and look around. Cho had her first solo exhibition this year at Hakgojae Art Center in Seoul, Korea, featuring her sequential works.