Overview

Mirang Wonne interprets natural forms in unexpected mediums. She uses primarily synthetic materials that paradoxically amplify the organic intensity of those forms, capitalizing on their physical and optical peculiarities. In her recent screen work, Wonne “draws” on fine stainless steel mesh using a blowtorch. By transforming an industrial material, the artist achieves results that are unpredictably subtle and intimate.

After receiving her BFA and finishing MFA courses from Seoul National University, Wonne continued her studies in France where she earned her diploma in mural painting from the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Art Decoratifs in Paris, and her PhD in Esthetics from Universite de Paris, Sorbonne.

Mirang Wonne’s artwork has been collected and shown in private and public collections worldwide, including the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, University of San Francisco School of Law, the Ritz Carlton San Francisco, the Triton Museum, the de Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University, Kaiser Permanente of Santa Clara, Stanford Cancer Center South Bay, Stuart Collection at UC San Diego, Sungkok Museum in Seoul, South Korea and the Musee d’Art Moderne de Paris.

 

"To me, life is incredibly beautiful. In spite of our daily struggles and failures and sorrows, I still find the gift of nature to be eternally sweet."

Works
Gallery Exhibitions
CV

EDUCATION

1975    Ph. D., Esthetics, Sorbonne (Universite de Paris 1), Paris, France

1973    Diplome, 3 Cycle, Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France

1970    B.F.A. & finished courses for MFA, Seoul National University & Graduate School

 

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2023   Studio Shop Gallery, Burlingame, CA

2022   Fire Transforms, Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto, CA

2021   Ethereal, Aerena Galleries, St. Helena, Healdsburg, Napa, Yountville, CA

2020   Everyday is a Miracle: 105th Anniversary Exhibition,  Studio Shop       

          Gallery, Burlingame, CA

          Unbound, Studio Shop Gallery, Burlingame, CA

2019   ALCHEMY; Fire and Gold,  SF Arthaus Gallery, San Francisco, CA

           Burnish, Aerena Galleries in St. Helena, Healdsburg, Napa, Yountville, CA

2018   Two artists show, SF Museum of Modern Art Artists Gallery, Fort Mason, San     

          Francisco, CA

2017   Elemental, Studio Shop Gallery, Burlingame, CA

2016   Fire and Light, Studio Shop Gallery, Burlingame, CA

2014   Fire Script, de Saisset Museum, Santa Clara, CA

2012  Studio Shop Gallery, Burlingame, CA

2011   Fire Strokes, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA

         San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artists Gallery, CA

2010   Allure, I Wolk Gallery, St Helena & Maisonry Napa Valley, Yountville, CA

          California, Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford, CA

          Gallery Sun Contemporary, Seoul, Korea

2009   Mirang Wonne: Vision of Enchantment, Invitation exhibit by curator, 

           Rotunda Gallery, School of Law, University of San Francisco, CA

           Nature’s Song, 1 California Street, San Francisco, CA

2008   Whispers, Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

2006   Mirang Wonne: New Work, Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

           Another Dream, Salisbury Fine Art, San Luis Obispo, CA

2005   Mirang Wonne: New Work, Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

2004   1212 Gallery, Burlingame, CA.

2001   Mirang Wonne: New Work, Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

           Floating, Installation & Sculpture Exhibition, 600 Townsend, San Francisco, CA.

           Pathways, Installations and Paintings, Manor House, San Mateo County, CA

           Art Council, Belmont, CA.

2000   Mirang Wonne: Floating Rocks, Installation Show, Gallery at Villa

           Montalvo, Saratoga, CA

           Redefining Space and Gravity, Pacific Heritage Museum, San Francisco, CA

1999    Stanford Art Space, Stanford University, CA      

 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2018    Art Market SF, San Francisco, CA

2014    Contemporary Organic, Studio Shop Gallery, Burlingame, CA

2012    San Francisco Art Fair, San Francisco, CA

2011    San Francisco Art MRKT, SF Art Fair, San Francisco, CA

2010    San Francisco Asian Art Museum, Korean Pavilion, San Francisco, CA

           Here from Korea, 3 Pioneering Generations, CJ Art Gallery and Stuart Collection, UC San Diego,

           San Diego, CA

           Seoul Open Art Fair, Seoul, Korea

           LA Art Fair, Los Angeles, CA

2009    Inchon International Artfair and Diaspora’s return, Inchon

           Emigration Museum, Inchon, Korea

           Diverse Impressions: Bay Area Abstraction, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara,CA    

           Flora, Ira Wolk Gallery, St. Helena, CA

           Bentley Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ

2008   Kyunggi 100 Anniversary Invitation Show, Sungkok Museum, Seoul, Korea

           Female Visionary Artists, School of Law, University of San Francisco, S.F., CA

           Red Dot Art Fair, New York, New York

2007   Affordable Art Fair, New York, New York

2006   Art Auction 2006, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, presented by the     

           Modern Art Council, San Francisco, CA

           Spring Green and Woven Things, ArtScape Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA

2005   Double Nature: Organic and Industrial, Four artists show, Susan Street Fine    

           Art, Solana Beach, CA

           Art is Always Fashionable, ArtScape Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA

2004   Common Thread, Los Angeles Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA

           Imbued, Gallery at Thoreau Center, Presidio, San Francisco, CA

2003   Four Artists, SFMOMA Artists Gallery, San Francisco, CA

           Gallery Artists Show, 1212 Gallery, Burlingame, CA

2000   Sculpture Walk at Yerba Buena Garden, Yerba Buena Art Center,  

           San Francisco , CA

           Gallery Artists Show, Jernigan Wicker Gallery, San Francisco, CA

1999    Selections, Invited by Art Span for the Best SF Open Studio Artists,

           Capella Gallery, San Francisco, CA

 

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS IN FRANCE

1973    Sculptures En Papiers, Installation, Parc Floral de Vincennes,

            Paris, France (Solo Exhibition)

            Salon de Mai, Musée d’Art Moderne, Paris, France

            Grands et Jeunes d’Aujourd’hui, Grand Palais, Paris, France

            Septentrion, Musée de Lilles, Lilles, France

            Exposition des Résidents de la Cite des Arts, Cite des Arts, Paris, France

1972    Exposition des Boursiers du Gouvernment de France ORTF, Paris

            Exposition des Résidents de la Cite des Arts, Paris, France

 

PUBLICATIONS

2014  

Mirang Wonne: Fire Script, by Lindsey Kouvaris, Curator of Exhibits and Collections

The de Saisset Museum Highlights the Power of the Handmade Artifact, by DeWitt Cheng, Art Critic

Painting With Fire, by Renee Batti

Artist Mirang Wonne Solo Show at de Saisset Museum, The Korea Daily, by Yu Kyung Kang

2013   

“Mirang Wonne at San Francisco International Art Fair,” The Korea Times San Francisco, by J.H. Lee

2011   

Trees with Stainless Steel and Acrylic Media, Solo Exhibit at the Triton Museum of Art in  Santa Clara, The Korea Times San Francisco, by J.H. Lee

The Abstract Gesture, by Preston Metcalf

Mirang Wonne,  Solo Show at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artists Gallery, The Korea Times San Francisco, by Sou-Rrak Son

Multi-faceted life on the stainless steel mesh…her unique media and expression, well received Mirang Wonne  exhibit, Korea Daily San Francisco, by Jung W.  Yang

2010  

Capturing Sunlight with Earth and Fire, by Peter Frank

Art of Today, Navercast by Eunju Choi

Celebrating the “Fallen Star” project at UCSB, Exhibit by three Korean Artists, Korea Daily San Francisco, by Yina You

Conquering the Mainstream by three Korean Artists, Korea Times Los Angeles, by Sook-hi Chung

Steel Mesh Instead of Canvas, Flame Instead of Brush, The Korea Times, by Son Soorak

KBS TV Broadcasting Clip, by Jin Hyun Park

SBS TV Broadcasting Clip, by Jae Kyu Yoo

Mirang Wonne Solo Show, The Korea Times, by Soorak Son

Interview with Mirang Wonne, by Dormain Geyer

2008 

Searching the Mysteries of the Life Through the Trees…, The Korea Times, by Jung-hoon Lee

2005  

Beautiful People: Mirang Wonne, The Korea Times, by Bum-jong Han

2004  

Local Gentry: Mirang Wonne, Gentry Magazine, by Tiffany Carboni Woods

2001  

The Gallery at Villa Montalvo, Selected Exhibitions from 1996 through 2000, curated by Therese Rohan

Mirang Wonne at Bryant Street Gallery, Gallery Guide: Presented in the “This Month” article

Expressing an infinite freedom through her boulders, Korea Central Daily, by Kwang-min Choi

2000 

Spatial Relations, The Almanac, by Renee Batti

Music, Art, Technology Mix it up at Innovate, San Francisco Chronicle, by Jesse  Hamlin

All Things Considered in Wonne’s Work, San Mateo Times, by Sandy Staggs   

Artist has soft spot for rocks, San Francisco Chronicle, by Heather Knight

E-Files: Art, San Jose Mercury, by Mark Whittington

Rocks Float into Montalvo Exhibit, Saratoga News, by Shari Kaplan

Open Studio: Interview with Mirang Wonne, Visualize Magazine: Off the Wall, by James Nestor

Korea Broadcasting Station, KBS TV News: 9:30am and 7:30pm News

1999   

William Wareham and Mirang Wonne at the Heritage Museum, Artweek, by John Rapko

A Forest of Stones, by Peter Frank

Publications
Press
Video