Qwaya

Qwaya captures the stillness and quiet beauty found within ordinary moments of daily life. Having first trained in fashion design before turning to painting, she brings an acute sense of color, texture, and form to her canvases—each work balancing simplicity and emotional depth. Her compositions often feature anonymous figures, suspended between motion and contemplation, revealing subtle emotions without explicit expression. Through this restraint, Qwaya allows the viewer’s own memories to surface, creating an intimate space for reflection. Her subdued palettes—neither loud nor somber—resonate with quiet warmth, while the tactile density of oil and pastel marks gives the surface a sense of physical memory. The name “Qwaya,” derived from the word “過夜,” embodies her artistic philosophy: to observe the silent passage of time and to hold onto fleeting sensations that might otherwise disappear overnight. Rather than grand narratives, her paintings offer a meditation on solitude, time, and emotional resilience, inviting viewers to rediscover beauty in the unnoticed. Qwaya’s visual language has bridged contemporary art and popular culture through collaborations in music, hotels, and international exhibitions, positioning her as one of the most compelling young Korean painters of her generation.