Kim Yik-Yung (b.1935) is one of Korea’s most well-respected ceramic artists and a pioneer in the ceramic arts. Kim studied at Seoul National University and the College of Ceramics at Alfred University in New York State. While in New York, she had the opportunity to meet Bernard Leach when he taught a seminar at the university, and she was profoundly influenced by his teaching. She is currently Professor Emerita at Kookmin University, Seoul.

Kim’s works bring Korea’s ceramic heritage into the modern world, bridging the gap between aesthetic beauty and general practicality. Her ceramics are influenced by Joseon baekja (white porcelain), which are prized for their simplicity and naturalness. They are made with the ancient throwing technique that offers flexibility and efficiency, allowing Kim to produce works without artificial traits and that remain true to the material. Kim employs faceting to reveal the dynamic characteristics of the clay: softness and sharpness, warmth and coolness, time and rhythm.

Her work has been included in numerous public collections, including the National Gallery of Contemporary Arts, Korea; the British Museum, UK; National Museums of Scotland, UK; the Victoria and Albert Museum, UK; the Smithsonian Institution, USA; and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, USA.

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