photo by Josh Braswell
Mi-Sook Hur is a metalsmith, enamellist, and professor in the School of Art and Design at East Carolina University. She holds a BFA in Metalwork and Jewelry from Seoul National University and an MFA in Metals from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. A Fulbright Scholar, Hur recently completed research at Seoul National University, focusing on traditional Korean colors and patterns—an exploration that continues to influence her creative practice.
Her work has been exhibited at prestigious institutions such as the Museum of Arts and Design (New York), SOFA Chicago, the Itami Museum of Arts and Crafts (Japan), and Vicenza Oro II (Italy). Her works have been featured in publications including The Art of Enameling: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration by Linda Darty, 500 Enameled Objects, and Metalsmith magazine. She also contributed a chapter on Limoges enamels to The Art of Fine Enameling by Karen L. Cohen. Hur’s work has been recognized with numerous awards, including honors from the Enamelist Society and the Niche Awards, a Purchase Award from the Arkansas Arts Center, and the European Design—An Asian Renaissance Evoked in Gold Award from the World Gold Council. She has completed artist residencies at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and the Jentel Foundation. A dedicated educator, Hur has taught more than 60 workshops in enameling and jewelry design at leading institutions such as Penland School of Crafts, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, John C. Campbell Folk School, Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft, Metalwerx, EGNE, Pullen Art Center, Seoul National University, and Kookmin University.
Her work is included in numerous public and private collections, including the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (Little Rock, AR), Enamel Arts Foundation (Los Angeles, CA), Crocker Art Museum (Sacramento, CA), John Michael Kohler Arts Center (Sheboygan, WI), Philadelphia Museum of Art (Philadelphia, PA), Racine Art Museum (Racine, WI), the collection of Sunny and Gloria Kamm (CA), and the Yale University Art Gallery (New Haven, CT).