DAEJEON.- KAIST Art Museum presents "The Vault of Masterpieces," an exhibition featuring the collection of renowned collector and gallerist Hong Gyu Shin.

Based in New York, Shin is known for curating exhibitions that bridge contemporary and historical art. Since founding Shin Gallery in Manhattan in 2013, he has introduced emerging Korean artists globally and exhibited alongside influential artists like Alberto Giacometti, Ai Weiwei, and Richard Tuttle. His rise highlights the increasing global recognition of Korean art and culture. Born in Korea, Shin studied Art History and Conservation at the University of Delaware, Museum Studies at Harvard University, and Exhibition Design at FIT. He opened his first gallery as a student, quickly immersing himself in discovering and promoting contemporary art.


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By age 30, Shin facilitated the sale of a Picasso and has since curated over 150 exhibitions and loaned artworks to institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tate, Reina Sofia, Guggenheim, Whitney, MoMA, Kunstmuseum Basel, and the Venice Biennale. He has been recognized by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes and served as a guest critic at Yale and Columbia.

This exhibition showcases 38 works from Shin’s collection across various media—video, installation, sculpture, painting, drawing, and performance. Featuring Old Masters like Vincent van Gogh alongside contemporary visionaries like Ai Weiwei, the exhibition embodies Shin’s belief that great art transcends time. A key highlight is Shin’s focus on historically significant yet overlooked artists, including Carla Prina and Else Fischer-Hansen. Works from diverse backgrounds—even a chimpanzee painter, Congo—challenge conventional artistic boundaries.

Additionally, the exhibition recreates Shin’s personal space, displaying books, postcards, documents, and artifacts from his youth, offering visitors an intimate and immersive experience.

"The Vault of Masterpieces" brings New York’s dynamic art scene to KAIST Art Museum, inviting visitors to explore and expand their creative horizons.



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