Kwon Woo Koh’s NYC Debut Proves He’s Here to Stay
Kwon Woo Koh’s introduction to the underground music scene has been an exciting development for the young South Korean-born artist. His vision has been on display in various ways, most notably during his “Your Eyes In My Eyes” exhibit in the East Village at the All St. Gallery. The exhibit was strictly for consumption by supporters, not for sale.
With underground imagery always maintaining a stronghold in music, especially in Hip Hop, creatives like Hidji World, Cole Bennett, and Jerry P Productions have all incorporated underground themes to keep artists like Playboi Carti, Lil Yachty, A$AP Rocky, Travis Scott, and many more engaging for fans of the culture.
In Kwon Woo Koh’s most recent exhibit, he presented 12 black-and-white photographs that created an exciting yet fulfilling push, making it easy for fans to become engaged. Whether it be upcoming creators like Anycia, OT7Quanny, Nino Paid, and Joony using street-inspired artistic imagery for their art, or established multi-platinum stars like Shy Glizzy, G Herbo, and Lil Baby, who have produced a more upscale version of the raw imagery that Koh is inspired by.
At the heart of Koh’s practice is an admiration for how hip-hop visuals amplify culture and identity, something he translates into his medium. Like Hidji Films’ collage-like, sometimes surrealist framing and Reel Goats’ raw, behind-the-scenes authenticity, Koh’s work captures not just the subjects but also the atmosphere and attitude of the streets. He often incorporates typographic elements, fashion cues, and gestural brushstrokes that recall the movement and rhythm of a music video set, acknowledging the choreographed chaos that directors like Lil X mastered.
By reinterpreting these influences in a gallery context, Koh challenges the hierarchy of what is considered “high” art versus “popular” culture, asserting that the creative genius of street and hip-hop visuals belongs on the same walls as any other modern art. His art serves as a testament to how hip-hop, as a culture and aesthetic, continues to inspire new generations of creatives to innovate and express themselves boldly.
Koh’s style has and will continue to take him far. His ability to shift inspiration into unique art has become a superpower. There will always be room to grow, but Koh is no stranger to hard work.