#South Korea #Seoul #Keep Walking #Mark Bradford #Amorepacific Museum

Mark Bradford: Keep Walking at Amorepacific Museum of Art

The Amorepacific Museum of Art in Seoul is proud to host the first solo exhibition of the acclaimed American artist Mark Bradford, titled Keep Walking. Opening on August 1, 2025, this significant event marks the largest presentation of Bradford's work in Asia and spans over two decades of his artistic career.

Born in 1961 in South Central Los Angeles, Bradford is renowned for his monumental abstract paintings that intertwine personal narratives with broader societal issues. He adeptly utilizes materials collected from urban environments—such as billboard paper and beauty salon remnants—transforming discarded elements into powerful, politically engaging artworks. This collage-based approach not only gives his pieces a tactile quality but also imbues them with layers of meaning.

Bradford's work is characterized by a unique visual language he refers to as Social Abstraction. This term encapsulates his ability to retain the aesthetic strategies of abstraction while directly addressing crucial issues related to race, gender, and socio-economic status. His significant representation of the United States at the 2017 Venice Biennale, along with accolades such as being named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2021 and ranking 19th on ArtReview's Power 100 in 2024, solidifies his reputation as one of today’s leading voices in contemporary art.

The exhibition Keep Walking features approximately 40 works, including large-scale paintings, video installations, and new pieces conceived specifically for the museum's architecture. Among the highlights are seminal paintings like Blue (2005) and Niagara (2005), the latter influenced by the iconic 1953 film starring Marilyn Monroe. Additionally, visitors will encounter Float (2019), a striking floor installation that encourages them to walk across its surface, creating an interactive experience that emphasizes the relationship between movement and space.

Each piece on display invites viewers to engage with the dense colors, textures, and emotional weight inherent in Bradford's compositions, reflecting the complexities and resilience of contemporary life. This exhibition transcends merely representing social conditions; it embodies them through the artist's innovative material and creative processes.

The Amorepacific Museum elaborates, “Mark Bradford has redefined what painting can be, turning it into a medium where histories, identities, and communities intersect and blend.” Through this exhibition, the museum aims to provide Korean audiences with a profound and immersive experience of Bradford's artistic exploration, showcasing abstraction as a social medium.

This exhibition is part of an international tour organized by Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart in Berlin. The Seoul showing builds upon previous presentations, incorporating new arrangements tailored to the museum’s unique architecture.

Exhibition Details

• - Title: Mark Bradford: Keep Walking
• - Dates: August 1, 2025 – January 25, 2026
• - Opening Hours: 10 AM to 6 PM (Closed on Mondays, and holidays such as January 1, Seollal, and Chuseok)
• - Venue: Amorepacific Museum of Art (100 Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea)
• - Admission: Visit the museum's official website for more details: Amorepacific Museum of Art
• - Exhibition Support: Sulwhasoo

This remarkable exhibition promises to offer visitors a unique opportunity to engage with the work of one of today’s most thought-provoking artists, making it a must-see event in the art world.