About

Artist Statement 

I wanted to portray my struggles and life journey through a series of queer portraits and bodies. Growing up as a gay teenager, I was living and experiencing life in a body that always tried to fit into society’s expectations. My journey has been shaped by personal experiences of social and emotional isolation. I have navigated the difficult path of healing and finding a community where I belong. I faced bullying and harassment from educators, leading to a profound distrust of the educational system. As a self-taught artist, I didn‘t have the typical background often seen in many established art careers. My portraits of queer immigrant figures are my visual love letter to my community. This is my way of expressing gratitude and the feelings of being protected and inspired by the Bay Area LGBTQ+ community, while also sharing my life story and the things that represent who I am.

Jun Yang, a self-taught artist from Seoul, now calls San Francisco home after 14 years. His paintings, murals and textile sculptures draw inspiration from his own experience, the city's rich cultural diversity and its supportive queer community. Jun combines his art with activism, reflects his personal journey and advocates for LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights by celebrating inclusivity and solidarity he’s found in San Francisco while exposing ongoing struggles.

Museums / Art Centers

2024 Bakersfield Museum of Art - “Resonantly Me” group show, opens May 30th.

2023 Bakersfield Museum of Art - “Blooming Journeys” solo show, September 28th - Jan 11th 2024.

2022 De Young Museum, Pictures Of People, in connection with Alice Neel: People Come First. Online web gallery Through July 10th 2022

2021 De Young Museum, The De Young Open Exhibit, San Francisco, CA Two paintings are selected by museum panel.

2021 MOCA Taipei, The Artist, His Collaborators, Their Exhibition and Three Venues at Museum Of Contemporary Art, Taipei, Taiwan. 

2021 Kuandu Museum Of Fine Arts, 2020 Kuandu Biennale. The Artist, His collaborators, Their Exhibition, and Three Venues. Taipei, Taiwan.

2019 Kunsthaus Graz, Graz, Austria Museum purchased three paintings and exhibited. 

Selected Award

2023 Public Works SF Salon - Artist Residency, July-August.

2022 San Francisco Art Commission - Selected grantee, Visual Art Grant.

Solo Exhibitions

2024 “Shifting Silhouettes” - Four Barrel 4B Art Department, San Francisco CA

2023 “Home And Away” - Office of Senator Scott Wiener, California State Building, San Francisco - August.

2023 “Artist series” Wine label collaboration and show at Wente Vineyards, Livermore CA, Nov

2023 “Art of Yoga” - Haum Studio, San Francisco CA Oct

2023 Figures Series - 5 Olive Street, San Francisco CA. Aug

2023 “Grow and Reveal” Strut SF, San Francisco CA. May

2022 ”Hold You Tightly” Schlomer Haus Gallery, San Francisco - July -Sep.

2022 “Season Of Jun” Consulate General Of The Republic Of Korea, San Francisco.

2022 "Still Here, Still Queer" CGV Theater, May, San Francisco.

2019 San Francisco City Hall, San Francisco,CA Exhibition dedicated to Harvey Milk’s legacy and designed to support to local queer artists. 

Selected Group Exhibitions

2024 “Intersecting Visions” -Upper Market Gallery, San Francisco, CA. March

2024 “Big Opening” - Rosebud Gallery, San Francisco, CA. March

2024 “Big Softie” - Soft Times Gallery, San Francisco, CA Feb

2024 THE ART OF_ Auction - Laurel Art Foundation, Bonham’s Auction House, Los Angeles CA. Jan

2023 “Recycle The Rainbow” Schlomer Haus Gallery, San Francisco CA - August

2023 “Summer Break” 13 Monroe Street, Manhattan NY - August 11-24

2023 Three Persons Show “Soft Shock” Moth Belly Gallery, San Francisco CA - June.

2023 Bass and Reiner “Pyramid Show” at Minnesota Street Project, San Francisco CA. April -June.

2023 Group Show Good Mother Gallery, Oakland CA

2023 “Humans A Portrait Show” Fame -O-Rama gallery, San Francisco CA

2023 “Works Of Art” Bushwick Street Art, Brooklyn, NY -March

2023 “January Artist Group Show” 2358 MRKT Gallery, San Francisco CA

2022 “Queer View” San Francisco City Hall, San Francisco,CA Exhibition dedicated to month of PRIDE 2022 and designed to support to local queer artists. 

2022 "Trio Show" Soft Times gallery, June 4th, San Francisco CA.

Art Events/Projects/Murals

2022 Meta Open Arts - Assisted two large scale mural project at Meta global security office, Fremont, CA

2022 Art Hoodie fundraiser partnering with Maitri Compassionate care.

2022 Super Fine Art Fair- Represented by “SF Grida Gallery” Fort mason canter for arts& culture, San Francisco, CA

2021 Prada Milano Union square, customizing gift boxes, San Francisco CA.

2019 Art Battle International Championship National Final, Art Basel Miami, Miami, FL

2019Help For Children Fundraising Event, Collaboration Live Painting, San Francisco, CA

2019 Sanchez Contemporary, Live painting, Oakland, CA

2018 Art Battle San Francisco, First Winner of San Francisco, CA

2018 Art Battle International, Region Final, San Francisco, CA

2018 Smart Group, Collaboration Live Painting event, San Francisco, CA 

Press

2023 CFTA (Californians For The Arts) “Pride Month Featured Artist”

2023 GAPA (Gay Asian Pacific Islander Alliance) “Featured Artist” on their webpage.

2022 KQED Arts “Featured Artist Of The Week”

2022 Published an Interviewed byThe Universal Asian, Online magazine for Asian Adoptees /immigrants/ Americans.

2022 ArtSpan's Spotlight Artists in the 2021 SF Open Studios, online and printed Guide.

2018 Bay Area Reporter Local News Paper, Artist Homage to Harvey, San Francisco, CA

2018 San Francisco Bay Times, San Francisco, CA

2018 Bay Area Reporter, San Francisco, CA

2018 Voyage LA, Creative Individuals, Los Angeles, CA