A new Smithsonian exhibition traces Korea’s artistic legacy through centuries of creativity and resilience.
A Landmark Exhibition at the Smithsonian
As Korean culture continues to shape the global creative landscape, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art looks back to the roots of this influence with Korean Treasures Collected Cherished Shared. The exhibition marks the first major United States presentation of works from the late Lee Kun Hee’s renowned collection, bringing more than 200 pieces to Washington D.C., including 14 designated National Treasures. Spanning 1,500 years of history, the show offers rare insight into one of Asia’s most significant private art holdings.
Audrey Nuna on History and Cultural Lineage
Musician and actor Audrey Nuna recently toured the exhibition, reflecting on the importance of honoring history while creating in the present. For Nuna, whose work bridges music and film, the experience underscored how contemporary Korean culture is deeply tied to generations of artistic progress. Organized into ten thematic galleries rather than a strict timeline, the exhibition creates dialogue across eras, revealing how shifts in belief, power, and technology shaped a distinct visual language. Nuna describes the experience as deeply emotional, encouraging visitors to reflect on lineage, resilience, and collective growth.
Art, Identity, and Enduring Emotion
The exhibition moves from ancient Buddhist sculptures and Goryeo dynasty ceramics to Joseon era furnishings and modern works by artists such as Lee Ungno and Kim Whanki. Alongside courtly elegance and refined craftsmanship, the show raises questions of representation, everyday life, and overlooked narratives, particularly those of women. For Nuna, recurring themes of han, a sense of grief, endurance, and strength, connect artists across centuries. Korean Treasures remains on view in Washington D.C. through February 1, 2026, before traveling to Chicago and London later in the year.
