We recently connected with Joan Kim Suzuki and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Joan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
I began getting serious about my art about three years ago. It was during the peak of the pandemic and my kids were all home because the schools had closed. They were bored out of their mind and unable to focus after “attending” class with their computers for hours on end. I told them to sit down and draw with me. We picked up markers rolling around in the house and watercolor palettes leftover from discarded coloring pages and we began to create. Fast forward to today, I am working as a full-time artist, creating modern Korean folk art and contemporary Asian art. I wanted to show my children how to be proud of our multiple cultures and how we are so beautiful no matter what skin color, hair color, or eye color. I had always been so embarrassed and ashamed of my outer appearance when I was a young child growing up in America. I was jealous of my friends’ lighter hair colors, wondered why my hair and eyes were so dull and the same as all other Asians. It wasn’t until I had kids of my own that I realized how beautiful each person is and how precious we each are.
When I paint people, my daughter comes up behind me and exclaims, “She is beautiful, Mommy!”. The fact that she sees this Asian woman in my painting as a beauty is the biggest accomplishment for me already.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am an Asian-American artist living in New York. I create a modern interpretation of traditional Asian art. It reminds me of my childhood, having been born and raised by hardworking immigrant parents and grandmother. They always taught me to respect our culture and to never forget the language of their home country. My mother read folktales and biographies of famous Koreans every night and my grandmother always told us her stories of how she survived the Korean war and WWII. My art focuses on the imaginative side of my childhood, and also the harsh reality of my grandmother’s war stories. The sole purpose of my projects is to educate and remind my own children about the sacrifices of our ancestors and also teach them to be proud of their cultures even though they live in America.
I paint traditional folk Korean artwork which can be found on my website at www.marichanartstudio.com. Custom prints of my work are all available and I also do commissioned work in my style as well. You can also see my process and art journey through my Instagram page @marichanartstudio.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
If a budding artist were to ask me what I wish I knew in the beginning of my creative journey would be, the opportunity to receive artist grants. Creating art is only a miniscule part of being an artist. The rest is like running a business. You have to create a working website, organize your finances, and find your audience. One of the most helpful experiences have been through grant applications. Of course, you may not get any of them, but if you do, that could be enough for you to think bigger and be more daring in your craft. You have to constantly research and search the web for grant opportunities that open up every year and find one that fits your style.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
In the beginning of my journey, I kept thinking, “What is the type of art people would want to buy for their home?”. This created a lot of stress and unnecessary expectations for myself. It took me quite a lot of exhibitions and meetings with other art communities to realize that I have to be true to myself and the people that love my work will find me if I do that. It may take a long time, but if I want to do this in the long run, slow and steady wins the race! 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marichanartstudio.com
- Instagram: @marichanartstudio