Kayoon Anderson joins us on the expert judges panel for Jackson’s Painting Prize 2023. Find out more about Kayoon and her work below, as well as what she will be looking for in the entries submitted and her advice to those considering submitting their artwork.
Above image: Self-Portrait with James, 2022, Kayoon Anderson, Oil on canvas, 100 x 75 cm | 39 x 30 in
Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your work?
Kayoon: I’m a Korean-English artist based in London. Having studied architecture, I recently re-trained in portrait painting at Heatherley’s School of Art and am now enjoying life as a figurative painter. I look to the early Italian Renaissance and Korean art as influences and I’m currently working on a series of paintings looking back at my childhood in a mixed-heritage home.
Tor, 2022
Kayoon Anderson
Oil on canvas, 100 x 100 cm | 39 x 39 in
What have been your exhibition highlights of 2022? Who are the artists or artworks you were most inspired by this past year?
Kayoon: This year, I was lucky enough to spend some time in Korea and I fell in love with the patterns and textures in traditional Korean architecture and crafts. Jogakbo was a new discovery for me – it’s a style of patchwork made from scraps of fabric, with a beautiful and humble effect. I also came to really admire the work of Park Su-Geun, a key modern painter in South Korea who is relatively unknown in the West.
On top of shows and art fairs, I have seen so much amazing work online – the Instagram community of figurative artists especially has provided so much inspiration and motivation for me this past year. To name just a few of my Instagram loves – Zoey Frank, Kimio Muraoka and Nengi Omuku are amazing.
Grandpa and Baby in Blue, 2022
Kayoon Anderson
Oil on canvas, 100 x 100 cm | 39 x 39 in
How important do you think awards and competitions are for artists today?
Kayoon: I think this depends on how you prefer to work as an artist. For me personally, regardless of the outcome, entering competitions has been helpful for me to look at my own work and question what it is I’m trying to do. And if successful, competitions have also been great opportunities to exhibit alongside artists who I really admire. Sometimes there’s the opportunity to meet these artists in person, and that is always incredible.
What will you be looking for in the entries submitted to the competition this year?
Kayoon: Sensitivity to colour, texture and composition are key things I look for in paintings generally. But in addition to technical ability, I’m on the lookout for artworks which convey their creator’s passion for the medium.
Do you have any advice for artists out there thinking about entering Jackson’s Painting Prize this year?
Kayoon: If you are unsure whether or not to enter, I would say there’s nothing to lose and lots to gain… whether that be the opportunity to exhibit or to learn a bit more about yourself through the submission, only good things can come from it! Just try to enjoy the process.
