[ NOV 2 - NOV 23, 2025 ] Minhwa: Soul of Korea

Martin Hicks Gallery at

The Belskie Museum of Art & Science Presents

Minhwa: Soul of Korea

Nov 2–23, 2025 • Closter, NJ

Opening Reception: Sun, Nov 2, 1–4 PM
Featuring a Korean Tea Ceremony performance by artist Sei Ryun Chun at 2 PM
Museum Hours: Sat & Sun, 2–4 PM (Weekdays by appointment: 201-768-0286)
Location: 280 High Street, Closter, NJ 07624 (next to Closter Public Library)
Web: BelskieMuseum.com   Email: KoreanFolkArt.org@gmail.com

A Living Tradition, Painted by Today’s Hands

(Closter, NJ)—Beginning November 2, the Martin Hicks Gallery at The Belskie Museum of Art & Science invites audiences to experience Minhwa: Soul of Korea, a vibrant group exhibition celebrating the color, humor, and hope of Korean folk painting (minhwa). Curated by Stephanie S. Lee, the exhibition brings together more than 30 works created by eleven artists—including Lee and her students—who revive minhwa’s beloved genres: tigers and magpies, dragons, peonies and flowers, books and treasures (chaekgeori), and more.

Minhwa—literally “paintings of the people”—flourished among everyday Koreans. Its bright palettes and generous symbols carried good wishes for protection, prosperity, learning, and longevity. In this exhibition, those timeless motifs reappear through contemporary practice, offering viewers a joyful, approachable entry point into Korean culture.

“Minhwa is a language of resilience,” says curator Stephanie S. Lee. “These paintings were—and still are—created to uplift our daily lives, no matter the hardships we face. Our artists honor that enduring spirit while expressing it through their own colors and voices. We hope visitors feel the warmth, playfulness, and quiet courage radiating from these beautifully vibrant works.”

Exhibition Highlights

• 30+ Paintings spanning classic minhwa themes—tigers and magpies, dragons, peonies and flowers, and chaekgeori (books and treasures).
• Intergenerational Learning: Works by Lee and her students, showing how tradition continues to thrive through teaching, community, and shared creativity.
• Opening Day Experience: A Korean Tea Ceremony performance (2 PM) introducing the aesthetics of grace, mindfulness, and hospitality at the heart of Korean culture.

Participating Artists

Alex Means, Dayoung Lee, Hong Ju Lee, Kelly Oh, Namsu Chun, Nayoung Kim, Sabrina Haimann, Sinchun Hwang, Sook Kyoung Kim, Stephanie S. Lee, Young Joo Hong

Why It Matters

At a time when audiences seek authentic connection across cultures, Minhwa: Soul of Korea offers an accessible, family-friendly gateway to Korean visual heritage—rooted in bright color, storytelling, and symbols of well-being. Supported by The Belskie Museum of Art & Science and Korean Folk Art, Inc. (KoreanFolkArt.org), the exhibition underscores art’s capacity to bridge histories, generations, and communities.

CALENDAR LISTING

Minhwa: Soul of Korea
Exhibition (In-Person) • Nov 2–23, 2025
Opening Reception: Sun, Nov 2, 1–4 PM (Tea Ceremony at 2 PM)
Hours: Sat & Sun 2–4 PM; weekdays by appt (201-768-0286)
Venue: Martin Hicks Gallery, The Belskie Museum of Art & Science, 280 High St, Closter, NJ 07624
Info: BelskieMuseum.com • KoreanFolkArt.org@gmail.com
Artists: Alex Means, Dayoung Lee, Hong Ju Lee, Kelly Oh, Namsu Chun, Nayoung Kim, Sabrina Haimann, Sinchun Hwang, Sook Kyoung Kim, Stephanie S. Lee, Young Joo Hong