YoonJee Kwak

Originally from South Korea, YoonJee Kwak is an artist and educator who has exhibited internationally and participated in numerous artist residencies and teaching workshops. She was a long-term resident at the Archie Bray Foundation and Pottery Northwest. She holds an MFA in Ceramics from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a BFA in Ceramics and Glass from Hong-Ik University in Seoul. Kwak’s work draws on a Korean metaphor that describes a person’s character as a “vessel” of tolerance and depth, while exploring contemporary themes of openness and human connection. Her work has been recognized with honors including the James Renwick Alliance Chrysalis Award, Ceramics Monthly’s Emerging Artist Award, and a 2024 Teaching Artist Cohort grant from the Center for Craft. Her pieces have been featured in major international biennials, including those in Icheon and Cheongju, Korea, and Jingdezhen, China. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of Ceramics in the School of Art and Art History and Design at the University of Iowa.