HeeChan Kim was born in 1982 in Seoul, Korea and received a BFA in metal craft from Seoul National University in 2006. Soon after, he immigrated to the United States to continue studying art. His interest in materials led him to study wood to broaden his horizons. He got an MFA in furniture design and wood working from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2010. By eliminating the limitations of making functional objects, Kim is continuing his art practice in sculpture in Union City, New Jersey. He was shortlisted as 30 finalists for Loewe Craft Prize 2024, and 30 works will be shown in Palais de Tokyo in Paris May,2024.

Kim’s work routinely explores the relationship between the hand, material, and form. His sculptures are a way for him to try and discover new forms, while also developing systems that allow for the material to participate in the creation process. He applies traditional craft techniques in new contexts to reimagine and explore outcomes, and challenge craft’s visual potential. He creates meaningful objects whether it is functional or sculptural.

As an artist who lives in the world where literally anything can be 3D printed, Heechan Kim want to find the meaning of the act of making, and recover our intimate relationship with nature (as material). As a vessel-like-form, it represents us as a human being. Tactile nature of Heechan Kim work originated from the desire of non-verbal communication as an Asian immigrant. Heechan Kim want own work to be quiet but loud at the same time.