Painting · Mixed Media
Mixed-Media Landscapes
Exploring texture and landscape through fabric, acrylic, and layered surfaces.
Fabric
+ Acrylic
Image coming soon.+ Acrylic
Welcome
to the portfolio of
to the portfolio of
Esoo Kim
Hello, I'm Esoo Kim.
ENGArt gives us another way to understand one another.
I'm a student artist and designer exploring the space between creativity, emotion, and human connection. Through painting, visual storytelling, and independent projects, I explore how art can communicate what we sometimes struggle to put into words.
The Person Behind the Art
More than what meets the eye.
I've always been interested in the things people see differently. A painting can bring back a memory, a color can suggest an emotion, and an unfamiliar image can mean something entirely different to two people.
That curiosity shapes both my art and the projects I create. From working with young psychiatric patients through Inner Canvas to building a platform for emerging artists, I've become interested in what happens when creative expression becomes a shared experience.
I paint, design, write, research, and occasionally experiment with coding. Each gives me another way to explore the same question: How do we understand one another?
Exhibitions
Grade 10
Doam Gallery
"결" Group ExhibitionTwo mixed-media landscapes, fabric & acrylic
"결" Group ExhibitionTwo mixed-media landscapes, fabric & acrylic
Grade 11
"이형동심"
Korean Painting ExhibitionSelf-portrait with a traditional seal
Korean Painting ExhibitionSelf-portrait with a traditional seal
Yeouido Public ExhibitionOriginal work shown in a restaurant
Independent Online ExhibitionEntrance fees donated to charity
Grades 10 – 12
Leumas Art Studio
Withspace.com25+ studio works, group & 3D virtual exhibitions
Withspace.com25+ studio works, group & 3D virtual exhibitions
Interests
Drawing & PaintingKorean PaintingMixed MediaArt & PsychologyCreative CodingWritingTranslation
Contact
Materials
ChAcInTxKp{}
My Creative World
Selected Work
A collection of artwork, exhibitions, and experiments in different materials and forms. Some pieces explore my own experiences. Others began with questions about identity, emotion, and how people interpret the world around them.
Scroll to Explore ↓
Traditional Art · Identity
Self-Portrait & Korean Painting
Bringing personal identity into conversation with Korean painting traditions.
이형동심
Image coming soon.
Drawing · Painting · Experimentation
Studio Works
A growing collection of 25+ artworks developed through studio practice and exploration.
Gallery · Public Art · Virtual Exhibitions
Exhibitions & Curatorial Work
Bringing artwork into shared spaces, from galleries to digital environments.
Art in Action
When ideas leave the sketchbook.
Creating art is only one part of what interests me. I'm equally curious about what happens when an idea becomes a project, invites other people to participate, or creates an opportunity that didn't exist before.
Inner
Canvas
Art as a language for emotions.
Canvas
An art-expression initiative created to help young psychiatric patients explore feelings through visual work. Through instructional videos, collaborative interpretation, and artwork sales, Inner Canvas explores how creative expression can open new ways to communicate.
Emerging
Artist
Platform
Making room for the next generation of artists.
Artist
Platform
A virtual space designed to help emerging artists showcase and sell their work, connect with creative professionals, and find opportunities beyond traditional gallery systems.
Independent
Publications
Stories told through words and images.
Publications
Two independently published books, The Rooms Inside Me and Inner Canvas, exploring identity, inner emotions, and the possibilities of visual storytelling.
A few milestones along the way.
2AP Art Exams Scored 5AP Drawing and AP 2-D Art & Design
25+Studio ArtworksCreated through professional studio training and independent practice
2Published BooksExploring identity, emotion, and visual storytelling
10Art Debates LedConversations about creativity, technology, authorship, and the art world
3Creative InternshipsExperiences in art, design, and collaborative project development
Questions I'm Asking
Can images help us understand emotions differently?
One of my current interests is the relationship between visual expression and emotional understanding. My independent research examines whether starting with images, rather than words, can help adolescents distinguish and describe complex feelings.
It's a question that connects my interest in psychology with my work as an artist. I'm curious not only about what people create, but also about what creating might help them discover.
There's always more to a story than what you see at first.
Take a look around. Explore my work, the ideas behind it, and some of the things I've been learning along the way.
Get to Know Me
Hi, I'm Esoo.
An artist, a curious observer, and someone who likes turning questions into creative projects.
I'm a student artist and designer based in South Korea. My interests move between painting, psychology, writing, and design, but they often begin with the same curiosity: how people experience, interpret, and express the world around them.
In the studio · charcoal on paper
My Story
From making art to making connections.
I first approached art as a way to explore my own imagination. I was drawn to the freedom of combining materials, experimenting with images, and making something that didn't have to be explained in words.
As I spent more time creating, I became interested in the people who encountered my work. I noticed that an image could invite different interpretations depending on someone's memories, feelings, or experiences.
That interest gradually took my practice beyond the studio.
Through exhibitions, I began thinking about how the space surrounding a work changes the way people experience it. At Doam Gallery, I exhibited landscapes that combined fabric and acrylic. In a Korean painting exhibition, I explored identity through a self-portrait incorporating a traditional seal. I've also displayed work in public spaces and virtual galleries, where art can reach people outside conventional exhibition settings.
These experiences encouraged me to think about art as more than an individual creative process.
I founded Inner Canvas to explore how visual expression could support young psychiatric patients who found it difficult to communicate their emotions verbally. I also created an emerging artist platform to address another challenge I had observed: the limited opportunities available to young artists without access to established galleries or professional networks.
Alongside these projects, I've continued painting, writing, studying psychology, and learning from people working in different creative fields.
I don't believe every artwork needs to deliver a clear message. Sometimes the most interesting thing a piece can do is make someone look again, ask a question, or recognize something they couldn't quite describe before.
That's the kind of work I hope to keep making.
My Creative Philosophy
Three ideas I keep coming back to.
01
Observe Before Interpreting
I'm interested in the difference between what we see and what we assume. Whether I'm studying an artwork or listening to another person's perspective, I try to make space for interpretations that aren't immediately obvious.
02
Experiment Without a Fixed Answer
I enjoy working across different materials and disciplines because each introduces new possibilities. Drawing, textile art, digital design, and creative coding have taught me that the process of making can be just as revealing as the final result.
03
Create Opportunities for Others
I've become interested in how creative work can make participation easier for people who might otherwise be overlooked. This idea guides projects such as Inner Canvas and the Emerging Artist Platform.
My interests don't always fit into one category.
Visual Arts
Drawing, painting, mixed media, traditional Korean painting, and textile experimentation.
Art & Psychology
The relationship between identity, emotions, visual perception, and expression.
Design & Technology
Graphic design, interactive experiences, creative coding, and new forms of digital exhibition.
Writing & Storytelling
Independent publishing, journalism, visual narratives, and translating ideas across languages.
Community & Culture
Art education, cultural heritage, creative accessibility, and projects that bring people together.
A Few Things About Me
There's more to me than paintbrushes.
Fun fact 01
I sometimes work with fabric instead of just paint.
For one exhibition, I attached fabric to canvas before adding acrylic, using the different surfaces to build landscape images.
Fun fact 02
I've explored art through code.
I've worked on creative coding projects, including a block-coded music education box and a mood-light prototype for pediatric cancer patients.
Fun fact 03
I enjoy a good art debate.
I founded an interdisciplinary art debate club where students discuss questions such as who owns AI-generated art and how young artists should be supported.
Fun fact 04
I'm interested in the art of translation.
I've translated English TED Talks into Korean, learning how much care it takes to communicate an idea across languages.
Fun fact 05
Movement is part of my routine.
I've trained in Pilates, exploring balance, flexibility, strength, and the focus required to improve through practice.
Fun fact 06
I like discovering art outside galleries.
From virtual exhibitions to public displays in everyday spaces, I'm fascinated by how the setting changes our experience of an artwork.
Always learning. Always experimenting.
I'm pursuing a U.S. high school diploma through Penn Foster High School and New Ark Global Academy, with expected graduation in 2027.
Alongside my academic studies, I've pursued advanced art coursework, independent research, and creative training.
Academic highlights
AP Drawing5
AP 2-D Art & Design5
AP PsychologyIn Progress
AP Human GeographyIn Progress
AP Art HistoryIn Progress
Cornell University Precollege DrawingSummer Program
Curious about what I've been creating?
My portfolio brings together the artwork, exhibitions, and projects that have shaped how I think about art.
My Artistic Practice
A collection of ways of seeing.
Selected artwork, exhibitions, visual experiments, and creative projects.
My work moves across drawing, painting, mixed media, traditional Korean painting, and digital presentation. I'm particularly interested in identity, emotional expression, and the ways materials and images can shape meaning.
This collection brings together individual artworks and projects that invite people to experience art in different ways.
Artist Statement
What happens when we look a little closer?
I've become interested in the distance between what an artist intends and what a viewer experiences.
A painting can begin with a particular emotion or memory, but once it is shared, it becomes part of someone else's interpretation. Rather than seeing that difference as a problem, I find it one of the most compelling parts of art.
My practice moves between familiar and experimental materials. I've used fabric beneath acrylic paint to explore landscapes, incorporated traditional Korean painting into a self-portrait, and worked with digital spaces to present stories about emotion and identity.
These approaches have made me more curious about how materials, visual language, and context influence the way people experience an image.
I want my work to offer space for different interpretations. Sometimes that means expressing something personal. Sometimes it means creating a setting where someone else's story can be seen.
AP 2-D Art & Design · Score 5
Making without a reference.
Selected works from my AP 2-D Art & Design portfolio. After years of academic training, this portfolio was where I started building images from imagination, combining sources, and letting materials lead. The quotes below come from my portfolio notes.
Work 01 / 08
Imagined Room with Buddha (title to confirm)
I did not simply pull information from another source. I combined many of them into an imaginary area that I have never experienced. This felt like the first time I ever determined something.
Buddha has always given me some form of stability; building the fictional space provided the means to maintain that sense of calmness while creating distance between myself and where I have been trained.
Work 02 / 08
Spiral of Portraits (title to confirm)
The illusion was the most important aspect of the artwork. The spiral brings you in with the same intensity that Korean academic art brought me in for years. However, I am now the artist drawing the circle.
Each individual portrait is a representation of different emotions that I was unable to express as an artist prior to being trained. When viewed individually, each emotion does not represent a single likeness, which is the purpose.
Work 03 / 08
Eye Flower by the Sea (title to confirm)
Prior to this project, I had never created a painting based upon imagination alone. The series of drawings I made depict my process of determining what forms would emerge if there were no reference images available.
Although I referenced other artists' work for the eyes, this is the first time I have used reference materials in such a manner.
Work 04 / 08
Figure on the Fallen Tree (title to confirm)
There was absolutely no reference for this entire scene. I allowed the forest to become an area that I may never visit or even experience in reality.
Work 05 / 08
Accumulation (title to confirm)
I returned to working with ink. Although I was trained using this medium, I permitted it to accumulate to a point where the drawing no longer resembles a subject and began to resemble texture.
Before beginning this illustration, I worked out the character on an iPad so that I could continue to modify it. After placing it on paper, however, I could no longer make any changes.
Work 06 / 08
Surreal Garden (title to confirm)
I used Adobe Photoshop to temporarily construct a surreal world. I created a surrealist composition to explore a new sense of atmosphere.
I cropped images and applied a collage technique to the chair.
Work 07 / 08
Mathilda (title to confirm)
Inspired by the emotional intensity of a scene from the movie, I explored texture and pattern before painting.
Mathilda represents my experience of being placed in an unfamiliar environment, between vulnerability and growth. The heavy, abstract background expresses emotional chaos and the process of adjustment.
Work 08 / 08
Organic Forms (title to confirm)
Statement coming soon.
No works are available in this category yet.
Drawing & Painting
Drawing & Painting
Drawing and painting are at the center of my studio practice. Through observational work, composition, and experimentation with materials, I explore how visual decisions can change the feeling and meaning of an image.
My work has developed through independent practice, professional studio training, and advanced art coursework.
Stacked Clothes (title to confirm)
Children, Swallow & Cat (title to confirm)
Figure Study I
Figure Study II
Figure Study III
Sketchbook
Figure Drawing Class Exhibition
A shared wall of figure studies from life-drawing sessions, shown with classmates' work. My pieces are labeled 20402 김이수.
Mixed Media & Textile Art
Exploring beyond the surface.
I'm interested in how materials carry their own visual qualities. Fabric, texture, layering, and paint can change not only how a work looks, but also how its subject is experienced.
Fabric,
Paint &
Landscape
Image coming soon.Paint &
Landscape
Featured Work
Mixed-Media Landscapes
- Exhibition
- Doam Gallery, "결" Group Exhibition
- Category
- Mixed Media · Painting · Exhibition
- Grade
- 10
For the "결" group exhibition at Doam Gallery, I created two landscape paintings by attaching fabric to canvas and layering acrylic paint over it.
Inspired by a method I encountered in another artist's practice, I experimented with the relationship between the fabric's physical texture and the painted image. The process invited me to consider how material and surface could become part of the landscape itself.
Fabric, Paint, and Landscape
I wanted to explore what happens when a landscape is built from materials that already have their own textures and forms.
Rather than beginning with paint alone, I attached fabric directly to canvas and developed the composition with acrylic. The fabric changed the surface beneath the painted image, introducing new shapes and textures into the work.
Creating these two paintings allowed me to experiment with a technique outside my usual approach and consider how an image can be shaped by the materials beneath it.
- Landscape Work I · Fabric and acrylic on canvas
- Landscape Work II · Fabric and acrylic on canvas
- Surface & Texture · Detail view
- Exhibition View · Doam Gallery, "결"
Korean Painting
Tradition, identity, and reinterpretation.
Traditional Korean painting offers a visual language with its own materials, conventions, and history. I'm interested in how those traditions can be used to explore contemporary, personal questions.
Featured Work
Self-Portrait
- Exhibition
- "이형동심" Korean Painting Special Exhibition
- Category
- Traditional Korean Painting · Self-Portrait
- Grade
- 11
For the "이형동심" special exhibition, I created a self-portrait incorporating a seal, bringing a personal subject into conversation with traditional Korean painting.
The work explores identity through a visual form connected to cultural tradition.
A Self-Portrait in Two Visual Languages
A self-portrait begins with the familiar subject of one's own face, but it also raises a question about how identity can be represented.
For this work, I chose to explore self-portraiture through Korean painting and the inclusion of a traditional seal. The process allowed me to consider how a personal image could interact with an established artistic language.
The result brought together two things that interested me: the individuality of a self-portrait and the cultural traditions embedded in its form.
- Self-Portrait · Korean Painting
- Detail · Seal and Composition
- Exhibition View · "이형동심"
자화상
Image coming soon.Leumas Art Studio
Learning through making.
Across grades 10 through 12, I trained with professional artists at Leumas Art Studio, developing more than 25 artworks and participating in group exhibitions presented through Withspace.
Working on different pieces helped me strengthen my technical foundation while exploring new approaches to composition, materials, and visual storytelling.
Studio Works: Studies, Experiments & Finished Pieces
This gallery brings together selected pieces from my studio practice, including works created through guided training and independent experimentation. Each piece represents a different part of the process of learning to observe, make decisions, and communicate visually.
Studies overview
Water & Landscape
Plants in Color
Ink Line
Art in Shared Spaces
Beyond the studio walls.
An artwork changes when it enters a space shared with other people. Exhibiting my work has encouraged me to think about audience, presentation, and the relationship between a piece and its surroundings.
My exhibition experience includes physical galleries, public spaces, independently organized online shows, and three-dimensional virtual exhibitions.
Exhibition 01 · Physical Exhibition
"결" Group Exhibition
Doam GalleryPresented two original mixed-media landscape paintings using fabric and acrylic, exploring how texture and painting can work together.
Exhibition 02 · Korean Painting
"이형동심" Korean Painting Special Exhibition
Exhibited a self-portrait incorporating a traditional seal, exploring personal identity through the language of Korean painting.
Exhibition 03 · Public Art
Art in Everyday Spaces
Yeouido Public ExhibitionDisplayed original artwork in a restaurant in Yeouido, bringing art into a space where people encounter it as part of everyday life.
I was interested in the possibility of reaching viewers who might not have planned to visit an exhibition.
Exhibition 04 · Virtual Exhibition
Childhood, Identity & Invisible Wounds
Withspace.com 3D ExhibitionOrganized a virtual exhibition examining the inner wounds of childhood cancer and the many different aspects of identity experienced by children living in hospital.
The virtual format provided a way to present these ideas in a space that viewers could explore digitally.
Exhibition 05 · Online Exhibition · Fundraising
An Exhibition with a Purpose
Independent Online Art Exhibition · Grade 11Organized an independent online exhibition of original artwork that also functioned as a fundraiser.
Entrance-fee proceeds were donated to charity, connecting an exhibition of creative work with a broader act of giving.
Exhibition 06 · Award-Winners' Exhibition
2026 KAJAA Korea Youth Art Festival
Marou Art Center Special Hall, Insadong, Seoul · May 28 – June 1, 2026Exhibited the Bronze Award-winning work "기억의 잔상" (Afterimage of Memory) in the festival's award-winners' exhibition.
Projects with Purpose
Ideas that became something bigger.
Some of my projects begin with artwork. Others begin with a question about an obstacle someone is facing. I enjoy thinking about how art and design can respond to those questions.
Project 01 · Art · Emotional Expression · Community
Inner Canvas
Giving feelings another form.
Inner Canvas is an art-expression initiative I founded for young psychiatric patients who may find it difficult to communicate emotions through words.
The project combines instructional art videos, participants' creative expression, and artistic reinterpretation. Selected final artworks were sold, with proceeds directed toward the project.
The Question
How can visual expression create another way for people to communicate emotions that are difficult to describe verbally?
The Approach
I developed instructional art videos to help participants engage in creative expression.
I then reinterpreted participants' artwork into new pieces, exploring how their visual ideas could become part of a broader creative project.
The project also included artwork sales, connecting the creative process with support for the initiative.
What It Made Me Think About
Working on Inner Canvas deepened my interest in the relationship between art, psychology, and the interpretation of emotions.
It also raised questions about the difference between observing another person's expression and understanding what they intended to communicate.
Those questions became an important part of my independent research.
Related Work: Inner Canvas Research Paper · Inner Canvas Publication
Project 02 · Creative Entrepreneurship · Exhibition · Digital Platform
Emerging Artist Platform
More space for artists who are just beginning.
Breaking into the art world can be difficult without access to galleries, curators, or professional connections. I created the Emerging Artist Platform to help make those opportunities more accessible.
The platform provides a virtual environment for emerging artists to present their work, connect with peers and industry professionals, communicate with curators, and offer artwork for sale.
The Question
How can a digital platform help emerging artists reach audiences and opportunities they might otherwise struggle to access?
The Approach
I designed the platform around three important needs: visibility, connection, and opportunities to exhibit.
Artists can showcase their creative work, engage with other members of the art community, and connect with curators who may help them explore exhibition opportunities.
The platform also includes a marketplace through which artists can offer their work for sale.
Why I Created It
As I developed my own exhibition experience, I became more aware of how important access and professional connections can be for young artists.
I wanted to explore a platform that would give more emerging artists a place to introduce themselves and take the next steps in their creative practice.
Platform link coming soon.
Project 03 · Textile Design · Community Service
Threads of Hope
Small garments, meaningful intentions.
Threads of Hope is a textile-based service initiative through which I designed and sewed handmade clothing for babies, donating the finished garments to charity.
The project allowed me to apply my interest in design and materials to a practical form of service.
The Process
The initiative brought together sewing, garment construction, and careful attention to the needs of the intended recipients.
Rather than creating clothing for exhibition or sale, I focused on making items that could be given directly to children and families in need.
What It Taught Me
The project helped me see how creative skills can be used in ways that are both expressive and practical.
Project 04 · Design · Coding · Prototyping
Creative Coding
Where design meets technology.
My interest in creative problem-solving also extends beyond traditional art materials.
Through coding and maker projects, I've helped develop prototypes that combine design with interactive technology.
Mood Light Prototype
Led a team at Deco Coding Institute to design coded prototypes, including a mood light intended for pediatric cancer patients. The team's work received first-place recognition.
Music Education Box
Led a team at Eastonic Coding & Maker to develop a block-coded music education box, earning second place in the 2025 competition.
Words & Images
Stories beyond the canvas.
Writing and visual storytelling have become another part of my creative practice. I've independently published two books exploring identity, internal emotions, and the possibilities of communicating through images and words.
Book 01The Rooms Inside MeEsoo Kim
Independent Publication · Visual Storytelling
The Rooms Inside Me
The Rooms Inside Me explores identity and inner emotional experiences through writing and visual storytelling.
The book reflects my interest in how we recognize and give form to aspects of ourselves that may be difficult to articulate.
- About the Book
- Inside the Pages
- The Creative Process
- Publication Details
- Where to Find It
Book 02Inner CanvasEsoo Kim
Independent Publication · Art & Emotion
Inner Canvas
Inner Canvas brings together visual storytelling and the exploration of emotion, reflecting themes that also guide my creative initiatives and research.
The publication is part of my broader interest in art as a language for experiences that words alone may not fully express.
- About the Book
- Selected Pages
- Creative Process
- Publication Details
- Where to Find It
Cover images coming soon.
Every work begins with a question.
Whether I'm painting, designing, writing, or creating a new platform, I enjoy the process of discovering where an idea can lead.
Beyond the Artwork
The things I've built, learned, and been part of.
My experiences extend from the art studio into research, community service, creative technology, journalism, and leadership.
What connects them is a curiosity about how ideas can become something people experience, use, or learn from.
Creative Leadership
Turning ideas into initiatives.
Inner Canvas
Founder & Project CreatorGrade 12
Founded an art-expression initiative for young psychiatric patients, created instructional videos, reinterpreted participants' visual work into new pieces, and supported the project through artwork sales.
Emerging Artist Platform
Founder & Platform CreatorGrade 12
Developed a digital platform that allows emerging artists to exhibit and sell work, connect with peers and creative professionals, and communicate with curators.
Art Debate Club
Founder & Debate LeaderGrades 10–12
Founded an interdisciplinary discussion club for students interested in visual art, music, and dance. Organized and led ten debates on AI-generated art, artistic authorship, funding for young artists, and the creative industries.
Threads of Hope Initiative
Project CreatorGrade 12
Created handmade clothing for babies and donated the garments to charity, applying textile design and sewing skills to community service.
Independent Publications
Published AuthorGrade 12
Independently published The Rooms Inside Me and Inner Canvas, using writing and visual storytelling to explore identity and emotion.
Research & Academics
Asking questions beyond the classroom.
Independent Research · Inner Canvas
Independent Researcher
Examined whether visual-first expression of mixed emotions could help adolescents develop greater emotional granularity than verbal-first labeling.
The research connects psychological questions about emotion with creative expression and visual interpretation.
HOBY Youth Scholars
Conference ParticipantGrade 12
Developed a research question, structured a proposal, and presented it at the HOBY Research Proposal Conference.
NGA Capstone Program
Capstone TutorGrades 10–11
Mentored peers on research planning, project development, academic writing, and revisions.
New Ark Global Academy Student Council
Student Council MemberGrade 11
Helped supervise lunch periods, maintain student order and safety, and prepare school festivals.
Internships
Learning from creative professionals.
My internships gave me opportunities to observe how creative ideas are developed within professional environments, from early concepts to final presentations.
Leumas Haus
Creative Intern (Paid)
Supported the development of creative projects, observing how concepts were refined and prepared for final presentation.
Itami Jun Internship
Intern (Paid)
Observed how artistic and design concepts developed through a professional process, particularly in relation to space, presentation, and visual intention.
Saeum
Intern
Assisted with project development and learned how professional teams organize, communicate, and carry out creative ideas through collaboration.
Community & Global Engagement
Creating beyond myself.
Amnesty International Korea · AMbers
Volunteer Project LeaderGrades 11–12
Led volunteers in a clean-water initiative supporting the purchase and delivery of water filters to underserved communities in Africa.
Linkman Club
Vice-PresidentGrades 9–12
Helped organize fundraising across seven international schools, raising $680 through handmade T-shirts and tote bags to purchase school supplies for Eden iVille orphanage.
VANK–Woollim Joint Campaign
Campaign LeaderGrades 11–12
Promoted Taekkyeon, a traditional Korean martial art, as cultural heritage through social media, online petitions, and a youth-focused policy proposal.
World Changer · VANK
Project LeaderGrades 9–10
Produced 12 multimedia posts exploring architecture, sustainability, and global awareness, receiving recognition through the program.
Bridge Asia / VANK
VolunteerGrade 11
Participated in international human-rights petitions and cross-cultural exchange programs involving students and educators.
DoSomething.org
VolunteerGrades 11–12
Completed four service campaigns, including Street Sweep, The Art of Community, and Scrub a Dog, contributing to civic and animal-welfare initiatives.
World Bridge School
Volunteer
Supported pediatric cancer patients through volunteer service.
Bishkek Medical Mission · Salymbekov University
Medical VolunteerJuly 17–18, 2026
Volunteered in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, at DOC Hospital (Salymbekov University Medical School affiliate) and MS Eye Clinic at the Kyrgyz National Hospital, assisting ophthalmologists during clinical examinations and supporting post-operative care.
Media & Communication
Exploring the power of communication.
Gangnam Post
Youth Journalist & ReporterGrades 10–12
Wrote articles on K-fashion, business trends, and pediatric cancer. Received editorial recognition for journalistic work.
TED Talks
TED TranslatorGrades 11–12
Translated English TED Talks into Korean and contributed captions to improve accessibility, receiving official recognition and a certificate.
Creative Technology & Wellness
Different disciplines, shared curiosity.
Deco Coding Institute
Team LeaderGrades 9–10
Led a team developing coded prototypes, including a mood light designed for pediatric cancer patients. Won first place.
Eastonic Coding & Maker
Team LeaderGrades 9–11
Led the development of a block-coded music education box and earned second place in the 2025 competition.
In & Out Pilates
Assistant CoachGrades 9–12
Developed skills in balance, flexibility, and core strength through Pilates training and practice.
Different experiences. New perspectives.
Every project has introduced me to new people, questions, and ways of approaching problems. Together, they've shaped how I think about creativity and the ways it can connect to the world around me.
Honors & Recognition
Milestones along the way.
A selection of awards and recognitions I've received across art, writing, research, technology, and academic competitions.
Each represents a different experience that challenged me to develop an idea, improve my work, or explore a new field.
Awards Directory
#AwardRecognitionLevelGrade
01
11th Big Read Challenge Book Report Essay ContestGangnam Post · Work: Catch-22 · September 2026
2nd PlaceInternational10, 1202
Eastonic Coding & Makers Competition
Gold PrizeNational1103
2023 Best Youth Journalist AwardGangnam Post, High School Division
Best Youth JournalistNational904
NGA National Math Contest
1st PlaceNational1105
World Bridge School Pediatric Cancer Patient Award
AwardInternational1206
Leumas Annual Fashion Brand Award
Gold AwardInternational9, 1007
2026 Korea Young Art FestivalCo-hosted by Korea Art Promotion Institute, Korea Gifted Discovery Foundation & Huam Art Center · Work: "뿌리의 숨" · August 2026
Special Selection (특선)National1108
Echoes of Impressions
Silver AwardInternational1009
2026 KAJAA Korea Youth Art FestivalMySlide Corp. · Work: "기억의 잔상" · May 2026
Bronze Award (동상)National1110
5th Korea Student Art ExhibitionKorea Art Promotion Institute, Korea Gifted Discovery Foundation & Huam Art Center · Work: "언니랑 나" · May 2026
Silver Award (은상)National1111
6th HOBY Korea International Young Scholars Conference 2026Presentation Track · Social Science (Research Proposal)
Organizing Committee AwardInternational1212
International Creative Writing Contestmonomousumi.com · March 2026
OutstandingInternational11Certificates
Academic & Artistic Highlights
AP Drawing
5Score
AP 2-D Art & Design
5Score
Cornell University
Precollege Drawing Summer Program
Independent Publications
2Two Published Books
Art Exhibitions
Gallery, Public Space & Virtual Exhibitions
The work continues beyond the recognition.
Awards mark moments of achievement, but I'm most interested in how each experience shapes the questions I want to explore next.
My Background
Résumé
An overview of my education, artistic practice, creative initiatives, research, leadership, and community involvement.
Profile
Esoo Kim
Student Artist & Designer
I'm a student artist and designer interested in visual expression, emotional understanding, and creative projects that connect people. My experience spans studio art, exhibitions, independent publishing, research, design, community initiatives, and creative technology.
Education
Penn Foster High School / New Ark Global Academy
U.S. High School Diploma Pathway · Expected Graduation: 2027
Advanced Placement Coursework
AP Drawing5
AP 2-D Art & Design5
AP PsychologyIn Progress
AP Human GeographyIn Progress
AP Art HistoryIn Progress
Cornell University
Precollege Drawing Summer Program · Grade 12
Areas of Expertise
Drawing & PaintingKorean Traditional PaintingMixed Media & Textile ArtGraphic DesignExhibition CurationCreative CodingKorean–English Translation
Creative Initiatives
Inner Canvas
Founder & Project Creator | Grade 12
Founded an art-expression project for young psychiatric patients, developed instructional art videos, interpreted participants' artwork into new creative pieces, and directed artwork-sale proceeds toward the project.
Emerging Artist Platform
Founder & Platform Creator | Grade 12
Built a digital platform supporting emerging artists through virtual exhibition, artwork sales, peer connections, professional networking, and curator access.
Art Debate Club
Founder & Debate Leader | Grades 10–12
Founded and led an interdisciplinary art debate club, organizing ten discussions about artistic authorship, AI-generated artwork, arts funding, and creative industries.
Threads of Hope
Project Creator | Grade 12
Sewed handmade baby clothing and donated garments to charity.
Independent Publications
Published Author | Grade 12
Independently published The Rooms Inside Me and Inner Canvas, exploring identity, emotion, and visual storytelling.
Art & Exhibitions
Independent Online Art Exhibition
Exhibition Organizer & Artist | Grade 11
Organized a digital exhibition of original work and donated entrance-fee proceeds to charity.
Leumas Art Studio
Project Leader | Grades 10–12
Trained under professional artists, created 25+ artworks, and participated in online group exhibitions.
Doam Gallery · "결"
Exhibiting Artist | Grade 10
Displayed two mixed-media landscape paintings using fabric and acrylic.
Korean Painting Special Exhibition · "이형동심"
Exhibiting Artist | Grade 11
Presented a self-portrait incorporating a seal and traditional Korean painting techniques.
Yeouido Public Exhibition
Exhibiting Artist | Grade 11
Displayed original artwork in a public restaurant in Yeouido.
Withspace.com 3D Exhibition
Artist | Grades 10–11
Organized a virtual exhibition exploring the inner emotional wounds and identities of children living with cancer.
2026 KAJAA Korea Youth Art Festival
Exhibiting Artist | Grade 11
Exhibited the Bronze Award-winning work "기억의 잔상" at Marou Art Center, Insadong, May 28 – June 1, 2026.
Internships
Leumas Haus
Creative Intern (Paid)
Supported the development and presentation of creative projects.
Itami Jun Internship
Intern (Paid)
Observed professional art and design development, with attention to space, presentation, and artistic concepts.
Saeum
Intern
Supported creative project development and professional collaboration.
Research & Academic Leadership
Independent Research on Inner Canvas
Independent Researcher
Studied whether visual-first expression of mixed emotions supports greater emotional granularity among adolescents than verbal-first emotional labeling.
HOBY Youth Scholars
Conference Participant | Grade 12
Developed and presented a research proposal.
NGA Capstone Program
Capstone Tutor | Grades 10–11
Mentored peers in research planning, project development, academic writing, and editing.
New Ark Global Academy
Student Council Member | Grade 11
Assisted with student supervision, safety, and school festival preparation.
Service & Leadership
Amnesty International Korea · AMbers
Volunteer Project Leader | Grades 11–12
Led a clean-water initiative supporting the delivery of water filters to underserved communities in Africa.
Linkman Club
Vice-President | Grades 9–12
Helped raise $680 across seven international schools to provide supplies for Eden iVille orphanage.
VANK–Woollim Joint Campaign
Campaign Leader | Grades 11–12
Promoted traditional Korean Taekkyeon through social media, petitions, and a policy proposal.
World Changer · VANK
Project Leader | Grades 9–10
Created 12 multimedia posts addressing architecture, sustainability, and global issues.
Bridge Asia / VANK
Volunteer | Grade 11
Participated in human-rights petitions and cross-cultural exchange programs.
DoSomething.org
Volunteer | Grades 11–12
Completed four civic engagement and animal-welfare campaigns.
World Bridge School
Volunteer
Supported pediatric cancer patients.
Bishkek Medical Mission · Salymbekov University
Medical Volunteer | July 2026
Assisted ophthalmologists and supported post-operative care at DOC Hospital and MS Eye Clinic, Bishkek.
STEM, Media & Other Experience
Deco Coding Institute
Team Leader | Grades 9–10
Led prototype development, including a mood light for pediatric cancer patients; earned first place.
Eastonic Coding & Maker
Team Leader | Grades 9–11
Developed a block-coded music education box; earned second place in the 2025 competition.
In & Out Pilates
Assistant Coach | Grades 9–12
Trained in Pilates, focusing on strength, balance, flexibility, and mindful practice.
Gangnam Post
Youth Journalist & Reporter | Grades 10–12
Reported on fashion, business, and pediatric cancer, receiving journalistic recognition.
TED Talks
TED Translator | Grades 11–12
Translated English talks into Korean and contributed accessible captions, earning official recognition.
Courses & Enrichment
Contemporary Art & Design Specialization
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Modern Art & Ideas
The Museum of Modern Art / Coursera · April 2026
The Language of Design: Form & Meaning
CalArts / Coursera
Fundamentals of Graphic Design
Xbox / Coursera
10 Courses in AI & Emerging Technology
Google AI
CPR & Basic Life Support Certification
Save a Life / NHCPS
Museum Study: Lee Bul Exhibition
Leeum Museum of Art
Selected Recognition
2nd Place
11th Big Read Challenge Book Report Essay Contest
Gold Prize
Eastonic Coding & Makers Competition
Best Youth Journalist
Gangnam Post
1st Place
NGA National Math Contest
Gold Award
Leumas Annual Fashion Brand Award
Organizing Committee Award
HOBY Korea International Young Scholars Conference 2026
Additional awards in visual arts, community recognition, and academic competitions are available on the Honors page.
A More Personal Introduction
Nice to meet you, I'm Esoo.
A little about who I am, what I create, and the things that inspire my curiosity.
Getting to Know Esoo
Art, curiosity, and everything in between.
This video is not available right now.
There are things a résumé can tell you, and things that are easier to understand when you hear someone speak.
In this video, I share a little more about my interests, the ideas behind my work, and what I'm excited to keep exploring.
Want to see more?
My Projects
Discover Inner Canvas, the Emerging Artist Platform, and other initiatives.
Say Hello
Let's start a conversation.
Whether you'd like to ask about my artwork, discuss a creative idea, or simply get in touch, I'd be happy to hear from you.
Prefer email? Reach me at
[Email Address]