

Biography
Yula Kim (b. 1996) is a London-based artist. She uses her unique cultural background to show the artistic connections between human cultures and nature, especially through birds and their histories.
Having lived in Asia (South Korea, China), Polynesia (Hawaii), Africa (Uganda), and Europe (The United Kingdom), Yula draws on her rich and varied experiences of cultures and nature-avifauna and flora- in her artwork. These diverse environments have shaped her perspective and inform the themes she explores in her art. Yula's inter-continental life has stimulated her ability to see the inherent aesthetics of nature, enlightened her gaze and helped her consider the significance of nature in, and its connection to the aura of vitality within individual lives, and society, as a whole. She offers a diverse viewpoint in her artwork as she describes the vitalistic relationships between human desire and the natural environment.
Yula's artworks have been presented in significant exhibitions, including the Platinum Jubilee Collection at Kensington Council (RBKC) and the Tate Modern in late March 2023. Her painting was selected to celebrate His Majesty's Coronation and was digitally presented at Windsor Castle during the Coronation Concert on May 7, 2023. She holds 2 Master's Degree; Master's Degree in Contemporary Art Practice from the Royal College of Art, where she graduated with distinction for her dissertation, and MA Museums and Galleries in Education degree at University College London with a distinction award for her dissertation, which objectives to examine values of conservation of objects for biodiversity researches through researching avian collections in museums in the USA and the UK.
Artist Statement
Yula is a contemporary painter whose work seamlessly bridges the natural world and urban spaces through her distinctive use of lines, abstract shapes from natural creatures, vivid colours, and dynamic spatial arrangements.
Her art explores the concept of ‘Vitalism,’ focusing on the interconnected relationships between humans, space, and nature. Yula delves into how humans engage with the natural world, enhancing its allure and the insights it offers. Through these interactions, her work seeks to affirm the significance of life and explore the complex interplay between human emotions and the natural environment.
In her artworks, Yula examines the role of nature in contemporary society, considering the integration of intellectual, aesthetic, and physical spaces to reveal the ‘living aura’ that exists between humans and the natural world. Her work critiques how urbanization and modernity disrupt these bonds, reimagining the interactions between humans and nature as acts of care and resistance against hierarchical systems that separate and exploit.
Birds hold a central place in Yula’s paintings, representing freedom, fantasy, and the intertwined history of humanity and nature. They embody life itself and reflect how humans have long perceived and connected with the natural world through cultural associations and artistic expressions. By weaving birds into her work, Yula captures the enduring beauty and vitality of nature, celebrating its aesthetic and emotional resonance. Yula’s paintings also explore how birds mirror humanity’s challenges and aspirations. The extinction of birds such as the ‘ō‘ō and huia speaks to the fragility of life and the consequences of human impact on ecosystems. Bird migration, with its cycles of movement and renewal, offers a profound metaphor for rethinking space, culture, and life itself. Through their journeys, birds inspire reflection on the interconnectedness of all living beings and the possibilities of imagining new worlds where coexistence and harmony take precedence.
Through birds, Yula’s artworks reflect an ethic of care and interconnectedness, offering conceptual frameworks that center empathy, coexistence, and mutual care. Her art critiques hierarchical systems that separate and exploit, inviting viewers to reimagine relationships between humans, nature, and urban spaces.

Artist Experience
Alma Mater
2023-2024
MA Museums and Galleries in Education, University College London
(Distinction Award)
2021-2023
MA Contemporary Art Practice-Public Sphere,
Royal College of Art
(Distinction Award for MA Dissertation)
2018-2021
BA Fine Art-Studio Practice and Critical Studies, Goldsmiths University of London
(2.1)
Award
2024
Winner of Communicating Time and Culture Project's Creative Video Open Call, Science Museum, London, United Kingdom
2023
Invited Artist Scholarship from Arts Letters and Numbers, New York, United State
2023
Digital Painting Presence at Charles III's Coronation Concert, Windsor, United Kingdom
2022
Selected Artist for Platinum Jubilee Collection at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, United Kingdom
2021
Video Art Presence with Auckland Art Week x Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
2020
Department Student Coordinator Bursary Award, BA Fine Art Department, Goldsmiths, University of London, United Kingdom