In an art world often dominated by the abstract and the conceptual, a burst of vivid, emotionally charged color has arrived in Tribeca. South Korean contemporary artist Si Young Yang is making a notable return to New York with “Blooming in NY,” an exhibition that opened in November 2026 at One Art Space on 23 Warren Street, and it signals more than just another gallery show — it marks a creative homecoming for an artist whose work has been shaped by the energy of Manhattan itself.
Grace Yeonsook Ji, Si Young Yang, MaryAnn Giella McCulloh (Photo credit: David Warren / SIPA USA for AP)
Art by Si Young Yang (Photo credit: David Warren / SIPA USA for AP)
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Art by Si Young Yang (Photo credit: David Warren / SIPA USA for AP)
Annika Pergament, MaryAnn Giella McCulloh (Photo credit: David Warren / SIPA USA for AP)
MaryAnn Giella McCulloh and Grace Yeonsook Ji Co-curated the exhibition, exploring a world where color, emotion and imagination meet
The exhibition, which runs throughout November 2026, is co-curated by MaryAnn Giella McCulloh and Grace Yeonsook Ji. Together, they have assembled a presentation that celebrates Yang’s distinctive visual language — one built on bold hues, fantastical flora, whimsical animal motifs, and a deeply personal approach to figurative painting. For the uninitiated, it serves as a vivid introduction to an artist whose canvases communicate across cultural and linguistic boundaries, using color as a universal tongue.
New York has long been a catalyst for Yang’s artistic evolution. His time in the city has directly informed a body of work that captures urban life, the rhythm of fashion, and the faces he encounters on Manhattan streets. His paintings have previously garnered critical attention in New York for their unique take on portraiture and representation, and he was part of One Art Space’s 2023 group exhibition “Interplay,” which examined the intersections of street art, pop art, and contemporary expression.
With “Blooming in NY,” Yang returns to Tribeca armed with a title that speaks to renewal, possibility, and creative growth. The imagery is unmistakably his: fantastical flowers and playful animal figures populate the canvases, offering viewers a lens into a world where memory, everyday observation, and unfettered imagination collide.
“Si-Young Yang’s work has a visual language that is distinctly his own. Through color, memory, and everyday observations, he creates paintings that are deeply personal and rich with imagination. We are delighted to present BLOOMING IN NEW YORK at One Art Space and introduce his work to New York audiences,” said MaryAnn Giella McCulloh, co-curator of the exhibition.
Grace Yeonsook Ji, the other co-curator, added: “Over the past three years, Si-Young Yang’s work has evolved from repeated imagery toward a more human presence, where gesture and individuality reveal an increasingly confident visual language.”
The exhibition also underscores One Art Space’s ongoing mission to bridge international artistic perspectives with New York audiences. Since opening its doors in May 2011, the Tribeca gallery — led by co-owners and women gallerists MaryAnn Giella McCulloh and Mei Fung — has become a cultural destination, presenting museum-caliber shows that encourage cultural exchange and fresh viewpoints on contemporary art. The gallery’s commitment to diversity is evident in its annual Women’s History Month exhibitions, and McCulloh also serves on the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA) Executive Board of Directors.
Recent projects at One Art Space have included a sold-out curated presentation of Shepard Fairey at the Hamptons Fine Art Fair, as well as exhibitions featuring Hunt Slonem, Al Diaz (SAMO©), Chuck Connelly, Andrew Salgado, and Purvis Young. The gallery’s mission: to create a place where the giants of art history and the visionaries of art’s future come together. (For more, visit www.oneartspace.com; follow @oneartspace on Instagram, OneArtSpaceNYC on Facebook, and @oneartspace on X/Twitter.)
About Si Young Yang: Born in 1999, the South Korean contemporary artist is known for his vivid, expressive paintings of human figures, animals, flowers, and everyday life. His work has been exhibited internationally — in South Korea, New York, New Jersey, and Turkey — and his participation in the October 2024 14C Art Fair held at River State Park was a sold-out exhibition. He continues to develop an artistic language rooted in imagination, personal expression, and emotional connection. (For more, visit www.yangsiyoung.kr; follow @yang_siyoung_art on Instagram.)
Lawlor Media Group, a full-service luxury lifestyle PR, marketing, and communications agency based in New York City, represents the exhibition. With over 25 years of experience, the agency serves clients across art, beauty, entertainment, fashion, hospitality, and philanthropy, operating in markets including New York, the Hamptons, and Palm Beach.
Norah Lawlor
Lawlor Media Group, Inc.
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Why it matters: Yang’s return to New York with “Blooming in NY” is not just another gallery opening — it is a testament to how a young artist from South Korea can find creative nourishment in the streets of Manhattan and then bring that energy back to a Tribeca audience. For collectors and art lovers, it is a chance to witness an evolving voice in contemporary figurative painting at a moment when his work is gaining international momentum.
