San Francisco is hosting a landmark moment in art history. The Asian Art Museum presents Ha Chong-Hyun: Retrospective — the first museum exhibition in North America devoted to the pioneering Korean artist, and a sensory journey through sixty years of innovative abstraction.
Born in 1935, Ha Chong-Hyun has spent over six decades asking what painting becomes when freed from every convention. Working with pressure, gravity, and tools ranging from torches to everyday utensils, he transforms canvases up to eight feet tall into treasure troves of texture and physicality. His signature works push oil paint through hemp cloth from behind, creating surfaces that seem to breathe.
As one of Korea’s most influential contemporary artists, Ha’s creative evolution unfolds in the museum’s Yang Yamazaki Pavilion like a masterclass in daring. It is a rare chance to experience a lifetime of fearless experimentation up close.
Ha Chong-Hyun: Retrospective is on view from September 25, 2026 through January 25, 2027. Do not miss this extraordinary encounter with a living legend.
Photo: An Chunho
