Haejin Yoo
AQ is our series of hardcover catalogs celebrating extraordinary women artists. Available on Amazon. Visit the AQ Catalog Webpage to learn more.
Haejin Yoo, featured in AQ Volume V, is a self-taught artist from Sydney, Australia, known for her surrealistic expressionist paintings that evoke past and present emotions. Yoo integrates mixed media—acrylics, textiles, carpentry, and spray paint—into her work, pushing the boundaries of traditional canvas art. She draws inspiration from the modern concept of persona and how it is shaped by social interactions, exploring these themes through her celebrated Woman in the Bath series, where the bathroom becomes a sanctuary for introspection and identity.
After winning 2nd Prize in the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize: RAYMAR Traditional Art Award, Yoo decided to transition from acrylics to oil paints. This shift allows her to expand her repertoire, refine her process, and further explore the themes in her Woman in the Bath series through a new medium.
Yoo’s achievements include recognition as one of Saatchi Art's Rising Stars for 2024, selection as one of the HUG100 Artists to Watch in 2024, the Merit Prize Award from Teravarna's International Juried Art Competition (2023), and First Prize Abstract Award at FIRA International Art Fair Barcelona (2022). Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at The Other Art Fair London and Los Angeles (2023), with Woman in the Bath III featured prominently on exhibition collateral for The Other Art Fair London 2024.
Recently relocating to Sydney after seven years in Cologne, Germany, Yoo continues to explore themes of identity and introspection while expanding her practice in new and exciting ways.
haejinyoo.com
What inspired you to become an artist, and how did you decide to commit to this path?
Becoming an artist wasn’t something I chose—it felt like the universe guided me toward this path. From as early as I can remember, I’ve always been fixated on drawing. Art was a natural part of who I was, but circumstances in my adolescence—moving abroad, financial struggles, and living apart from my family—pushed me toward a scientific career. I pursued degrees in biomedical science and molecular biotechnology, securing a stable corporate job in my 20s. While my life looked comfortable on the outside, I felt unfulfilled and empty on the inside.
By chance, I started drawing again in my mid-20s, which rekindled my passion. From colored pencils to watercolors, and eventually acrylic paints, I began experimenting and finding my voice. In 2017, my husband and I moved to London, and I made the leap to becoming a full-time artist—not because I was thriving in my art career, but because I felt the universe left me no other choice. It was a turning point that forced me to grow. Every small “win” kept me going, even when I was on the verge of giving up. After the birth of my daughter, I paused painting for nearly a year. I eventually participated in an art fair in Barcelona, almost by accident, where I won an award while breastfeeding my baby in the booth. That surreal moment was a sign for me to keep going, and since then, my career has gained momentum. I feel more confident and fulfilled now than ever before, and I’m finally enjoying the path I’m on.
Could you share the story or concept behind your recent work?
The Woman in the Bath series was born from a moment of personal realization. After a disappointing art fair in Los Angeles, where I felt like I had painted what I thought others wanted, I came away empty-handed but with newfound clarity. I knew I had to be true to myself—embrace the surreal, vibrant, and slightly weird elements I love. That’s when I started creating from a place of honesty.
The inspiration for this series comes from my postpartum experience. I remember bathing with my baby girl at night, after a long day of being a “good mother,” laughing, playing, and doing all my duties. In the bath, the silence would open a floodgate of raw thoughts and emotions—feeling like I wasn’t good enough, questioning my slow artistic journey, and struggling with postpartum depression. These quiet moments made me realize how the bathroom is a sanctuary, a place where layers of facade are stripped away, much like flowers shedding their petals. Woman in the Bath captures these private moments of introspection when the beauty and fragility of our inner worlds are laid bare.
What was the most challenging part of your path so far? How are you navigating this obstacle?
The hardest part of my journey has been the unknown—working tirelessly without knowing if it will lead anywhere. For years, I faced countless rejections, slow progress, and emotional highs and lows. After my daughter was born, balancing long hours in the studio with motherhood was especially tough, and the uncertainty of success felt overwhelming at times.
What helped me navigate this was sheer determination. I allowed myself to feel sad but never to stop working. My mantra is, “Don’t make your emotions your actions.” Even on the hardest days, I’d cry holding my brush but never put it down. Slowly, I started seeing results—small wins turned into bigger ones, and now I feel more grounded in my career. I’ve learned that resilience and hard work are key, and I’m proud of the progress I’ve made.
What role does experimentation and exploration play in your artistic practice?
Experimentation has always been at the core of my artistic journey. I started with colored pencils, watercolors, and markers, exploring different techniques and styles before transitioning to acrylic paint. After seven years with acrylics, I’ve recently started working with oil paint, which has opened new possibilities for me. Finding my niche and color palette took years, but it was worth the time and effort. While I constantly strive to push my limits and improve, I’m working on becoming freer and less rigid in my process—something I hope to explore further in the future.
Do you have any start or stop rituals before creating?
Before starting, I set up my crime documentary playlist, get my gloves on, open the windows, turn on my studio lights, and grab a blanket for my lap. When I stop, I take a photo of my progress, clean my brushes and palette, and turn everything off.
What message do you hope your art conveys to the world?
I want my art to remind people that they are not alone. We all carry facades, but we also need spaces where we can be free and true to ourselves. My work is about creating moments of introspection and connection with our inner worlds.
Share a mantra or favorite quote that keeps you going.
My mantra is, “Don’t make your emotions your actions.” Over the years, there were countless days I felt like a failure, cried in my studio, and thought about giving up. But even in those moments, I sat in front of my canvas and kept going. I learned that it’s okay to feel sad or overwhelmed as long as you don’t let those emotions stop you. Pushing through the hardest times has made every success feel that much more rewarding.
