강애자

BIOGRAPHY

Ehja Kang (born in 1960 in Seoul) is a Korean-American artist recognized for her abstract paintings. As the youngest of four children, she grew up with supportive parents from North and South Korea, who nurtured her artistic passion from the age of six. Kang studied Oriental Painting at Chookye Art School in Seoul and began expanding her studies of Contemporary Painting at Moorpark College after immigrating to the United States with her husband in 1985.

A pivotal moment in Kang’s career was meeting Lydia Takeshita in 1997. As a pioneering art professor, critic, and owner of several galleries in Southern California, Takeshita dedicated her life to cultivating generations of artists. For twenty years, she visited Kang’s studio monthly, providing rigorous critiques and invaluable guidance. Her mentorship was crucial in refining Kang’s techniques, exploring new artistic territories, and shaping the trajectory of her career.

Color is the most important aspect of Kang’s work. She seamlessly merges traditional Korean concepts with modern techniques, including layering paints and rice papers, dripping, squeegeeing, and her distinctive cracking method— a technique she developed over a decade of experimenting with various permutations of unconventional ingredients. Her unique cracking method allows her to control every aspect of the cracks, from the size and shape of each cracked piece to levels of depth and glossiness, contributing to the textured and layered complexity of her pieces.

Kang’s art is deeply influenced by the concept of "yeo-baek" (여백), or white space, a cornerstone of traditional Oriental Painting and a concept that eventually became the foundation of her later monochromatic painting series. For Kang, white space is not merely an empty area but a powerful element that facilitates balance and harmony. This principle of balance and harmony is vividly expressed through her use of colors, organic shapes, and layered textures.

Her work has been showcased in twelve solo exhibitions and numerous group exhibitions across the United States and internationally. Kang continues to paint from her studio in Northridge, where she has worked for 30 years. She resides with her husband in Porter Ranch, California, and is the proud mother of two children—her daughter is an academic, and her son works in finance.