Join Korean art historian and curator Jinyoung Jin as she reveals the fascinating life and art of Lee Qoede (1913–1965), a groundbreaking twentieth-century Korean painter shaped by the turbulent ideological battles of postliberation Korea. From surviving three years in a prisoner-of-war camp during the Korean War to defecting to North Korea in 1953, Lee’s journey and artistry reflect a profound resilience. Jin will delve into his impactful contributions to twentieth-century social realism, uncovering the surprising and powerful influence of Mexican muralism on his work.

From POW Camp to Muralist: The Untold Story of Lee Qoede

Thursday, June  5, 2025 | 6:30 PM

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

About the Speaker:

Jinyoung Anna Jin, Ph.D., is the Director of Asian Art and Culture at the Charles B. Wang Center at Stony Brook University. Jin has organized critically acclaimed exhibitions including Korea: A Land of Hats (2019), The Power and Pleasure of Possessions in Korean Painted Screens (2016), Comfort Women Wanted (2014), and Seas of Blue: Asian Indigo Dye (2014). Many of her curated exhibitions have been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and PBS. Jin’s recent publication includes Art, War, and Exile in Modern Korea: Rethinking the Life and Work of Lee Qoede, Park Dae Sung: Ink Reimagined, and Chaekgeori: The Power and Pleasure of Possessions in Korean Painted Screens. Jin serves as a member of the community advisory board of PBS Thirteen/WLIW.

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