Jaeyi Kim’s goal as a painter is not just popularity or recognition. She strives for communication with her audience through her understanding of her own identity and the idea of inner strength. To her, success is not only measured by accomplishment, but more so by her own satisfaction of having worked as hard as possible to achieve her own highest levels of performance. As an artist, she does not settle for popularity, rather, she constantly pushes herself to grow and improve.

The focus of Jaeyi’s paintings have a commonality of hopefulness in the face of frustration. Her work is a response to the questions and doubts that have followed her throughout her life. Jaeyi sees the work of painting as one of the most pure and primitive acts a person can engage in, as a young mind looking back on the forgotten past and leaving a record of the memories encountered in order not to forget again.

Elements like frames, stairs, and curtains symbolize the transcendence of time and space. Recurring motifs such as crowns, ribbons, and pollen in Jaeyi’s paintings signify blessings. She seeks to bless herself, as well as those like her, who continue to struggle with the growing pains of adulthood in the chaos of urban life. Her work serves as a message of courage to herself and to others who may share her journey. “Princess Pierrot,” represents a reflection of her perseverance and determination. 

Born in Seoul, Korea, in 1972, Jaeyi Kim is the youngest of one son and three daughters. As a child, she was weak, short, sensitive and introverted. She. She studied drawing, oil painting, and commercial design at a private academy during her last two years of high school, but after graduation, began working in a field unrelated to painting, relegating her artistic pursuits to a hobby.

Jaeyi didn’t fit the mold of the "ideal" person in the Korean zeitgeist. Korean society does not respect individuality and often values extroverted and outwardly social personalities. Jaeyi faced criticism for her introverted nature and began hiding her true self. Over time, she managed to build a facade of extrovertedness. But one day, seeing herself in a group photograph, smiling brightly, she felt that although it was her face, it was totally unfamiliar. In that moment, she realized she was deeply unhappy and not the person she wanted to be. That was when she decided to reconnect with her true self. She chose to embrace her introverted nature once more.

The reason her work draws sympathy and hope from viewers is that the artist's questions bring out the pure longings that have been buried deep inside the heart of the viewer. Her hope is that she and her audience can sympathize with each other deeply, as if her eyes can touch those of the viewer. Her pieces explore the dreams she had as a child and the growth pains she thought would disappear as she grew older, but which persist into adulthood.

Jaeyi’s work draws heavily from her childhood. Her paintings tell stories of dreams that have one by one been given up. Though she remains clumsy and lonely like she was in the past, she is now at peace with herself. She is incomplete but free—sensitive, yet peaceful. Life may present many unexpected challenges, but she is confident she will overcome whatever obstacles lie ahead. These stories, which were both strange and beautiful, are buried within the painting and tell the viewer "may you remember your dreams."