Details

Artist Bio

Haejin Yoo is a self-taught oil and acrylic artist, born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Australia, whose surrealistic expressionist art evokes emotions from the past and present. She integrates mixed media, including oils, acrylics, textiles, carpentry, and spray paint, to push beyond the limits of traditional canvas art and bring depth to her works.

As an artist on the autism spectrum, Haejin’s unique perspective allows her to explore themes of identity, emotion, and introspection—concepts at the heart of her Woman in the Bath series. This body of work reflects on the vulnerability of private thoughts and the fluid nature of persona, offering intimate moments of self-reflection and connection. Her autism not only shapes her creative process but also informs the deeply personal and universal qualities in her work.

Haejin discovered her passion for art at a young age, but it was suppressed until her late twenties when she transitioned from a career in the sciences. The analytical skills she developed in her scientific background now enrich her understanding of artistic mediums, including oils and acrylics. After nearly eight years in Germany, where she exhibited extensively across Europe, Haejin has returned to Sydney, Australia.

Haejin's achievements include 2nd Prize in the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize: RAYMAR Traditional Art Award, recognition as one of Saatchi Art’s Rising Stars for 2024, selection as one of the HUG100 Artists to Watch in 2024, and a Finalist position in the Boynes Artist Award 10th Edition (2024). She also won the Merit Prize Award at Teravarna's International Juried Art Competition (2023), the Artist Expert Award (2022) presented by Prof. Vittorio Sgarbi, and First Prize Abstract Award at FIRA International Art Fair Barcelona (2022).

Notably, Woman in the Bath III was selected as the featured artwork for The Other Art Fair London 2024, displayed on exhibition collateral and a large 3+ metre banner in London. Haejin has exhibited at The Other Art Fair London and Los Angeles (2023) and is set to showcase her work across the US and New Zealand in 2025.

Artist Statement

I'm Haejin Yoo, a self-taught oil and acrylic artist, exploring surrealism and symbolism in today's world. Adding carpentry to my art, I create built-in frames for a more captivating effect.

My inspiration comes from our modern idea of persona, shaped by our social lives as we grow older.

The bathroom is my canvas with the "Woman in the Bath" series, where I capture the tranquility of "private thoughts," in a quiet place where our true selves show. Delicate flowers, veiled in a clear translucent liquid, symbolize the persona—fragile, beautiful, and revealing the concealed essence of self.

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.

Professional Highlights

2025

March – Selected by Azart Gallery NY to be featured in the 50th Edition of Create! Magazine
February – Runner-Up Prize Winner of the 2nd International 2D Online Exhibition for Soul of Artists, for WITB IX, I, & III

2024

September – 2nd Prize Winner in the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize: RAYMAR Traditional Art Award for Woman in the Bath VI
September – Saatchi Art Rising Stars for 2024
August – Front & Back Cover Artist in Arts to Hearts Magazine (6th Edition)
June – Finalist for the Boyne’s Artist Award (10th Edition)
May – Woman in the Bath III selected by Chief Curator Rebecca Wilson of Saatchi Art for New This Week 05-13-2024
May – Woman in the Bath VII selected by Chief Curator Rebecca Wilson of Saatchi Art for New This Week 05-06-2024
April – Gladiola selected by Chief Curator Rebecca Wilson of Saatchi Art for New This Week 04-29-2024
April – Top 100 Artists to Watch in 2024 (HUG100) – curated by representatives from MoMA, Christie’s, The Shed, etc.
April – Woman in the Bath VI selected by Head Curator Lorr Ye of HUG to exhibit during HUGFest 2024 at Canvas 3.0 Gallery, NYC
April – Suboart Magazine Full Page Feature of Woman in the Bath VI
March – Woman in the Bath III selected by Chief Curator Rebecca Wilson of
Saatchi Art for New This Week 03-18-2024
March – Women United Art Magazine – Issue VI
March – The Other Art Fair, London – Main Art Fair Banner Artist (judged from over 1000 artworks)

2023

October – Friendship Ending selected by the Artfinder Staff Pick for Floral Picks
August – Winner of the Merit Prize Award from Teravarna
July – Interview by Women’s United Art Movement
May – Interview by Suboart Magazine: International Art Magazine for Emerging Artists
April – Crane Picnic selected by Chief Curator Rebecca Wilson of Saatchi Art for New This Week 04-03-2023
February – Slump selected by Senior Curator Megan Wright of Saatchi Art for Curator Picks: The Other Art Fair London
February – i live in a burning house selected by Chief Curator and VP, Art Advisory of Saatchi Art for New This Week 02-06-2023
February – Crane Picnic selected by the Artfinder Staff Pick for Surrealism
February – Featured in Arte Magazine, Italy

2022

December – Winner: Artist Expert Award (Impronte d'Arte, Bergamo, Italy – Judged by Vittorio Sgarbi) & featured on Italian TV
November – Winner: First Prize Abstract Award (Fira Internacional d'Art Barcelona, Spain)

2019

May – Winner: Public Vote Award (Nowart, Werkkunst Gallery, Hamburg)

Find Me

Portfolio

Woman in the Bath

The "Woman in the Bath" series delves into the modern concept of persona, exploring the fluidity shaped by life's dynamics. Centered in the sanctuary of the bathroom, each painting captures the concept of "private thought" and the tranquility found in solitude. Originating as a self-portrait (Woman in the Bath I), these androgynous figures transcend gender norms, offering a universal canvas for introspection. Delicate flowers, veiled in translucent liquid, symbolize the fragility and beauty of the persona. The series unfolds as a broader reflection on identity, with each stroke fostering a collective sigh—a relatable sense of relief in encountering the raw authenticity of private thoughts.⁠