Tag Page LeeShinJa

Threads Unraveled in Seoul and New York as Lee ShinJa’s Fiber Art Finds Its Moment

Fiber art in mid-20th-century Korea was often dismissed as mere handiwork, quietly relegated to the domestic sphere. Yet Lee ShinJa, born in Uljin in 1930, turned this overlooked tradition into a radical art form. In the 1950s, she began weaving with unexpected materials—think worn sweaters and rough burlap—challenging the boundaries of what textile art could be. As a founder of the Korean Fiber Artists Association and a longtime professor at Duksung Women’s University, Lee not only shaped the craft but also championed its place in contemporary art. Her works now grace major museums, and her influence stretches from Seoul to New York, where Tina Kim Gallery will soon spotlight her pioneering vision. What once seemed ordinary—fiber and thread—now stands as a testament to innovation and resilience, woven into the fabric of art history. #LeeShinJa #FiberArt #KoreanArt #Culture