Myungtaek Jung

Myungtaek Jung (b. 1971, Seoul, South Korea) is a leading figure in Korean art furniture, recognised for integrating traditional Korean aesthetics with contemporary sculptural design. His work explores the philosophical and spatial properties of materials, transforming furniture from functional objects into contemplative works of art. Rooted in the principles of Korean architecture, particularly the notions of muwi (the absence of activity), mushim (the absence of mind or desire), and muhyung (the absence of shape), Jung reinterprets these concepts through a contemporary lens.

Jung began his academic training at Hongik University in Seoul, where he studied woodworking and furniture design. He later earned an MFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in the United States, where he worked with the Wendell Castle Collection. Castle, widely regarded as the father of American art furniture, became an important influence, helping to expand Jung’s international perspective while reinforcing the sculptural potential of furniture as a medium.

Upon returning to Korea, Jung completed a practice-based PhD centred on the creation of art furniture embodying the “Three Non-being Spirits” of ancient Korean architecture. This research established the philosophical foundation of his practice, which continues to investigate the relationship between material, space, and presence.

Central to this enquiry is the role of emptiness as a generative force, where absence is understood not as a void to be filled but as an active spatial condition. His work is characterised by a restrained formal language and a deep sensitivity to material, allowing structure, weight, and void to operate as primary compositional elements.

Jung has exhibited internationally, with solo exhibitions in the United States, Egypt, and Korea. His work has been presented in numerous exhibitions and international design fairs, including the Milan Triennale Design Museum (2018), Design Art Busan (2017), PAD London (2025), Salon Art & Design, New York (2025), and Design Miami (2010, 2025). In 2009, he was named a Next Generation Design Leader by Korea’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy, and in 2022, he was selected as a finalist for the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize.

Based in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, Jung continues to develop a body of work that situates art furniture within a broader sculptural and philosophical tradition, exploring the dynamic relationship between mass, space, and material presence.