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04 - 07 October, 2023
Saatchi Gallery, London
FOCUS TEAM
Hong I CEO
Hong is a director at Focus Art Fair, with a rich background as a Marketing Communications Specialist boasting over 6 years of experience in the field. He possesses a genuine passion for working with seed and early-stage businesses, with a particular emphasis on developing innovative strategies that drive positive impacts in the art market industry. Hong's extensive knowledge and expertise span a wide range of disciplines, including market research, branding, advertising, public relations, and event management. He has consistently demonstrated his ability to manage multiple projects with ease, while maintaining unwavering standards of quality and precision in all deliverables. His deep understanding of the art market, coupled with his skill in leveraging both digital and social media platforms as well as traditional marketing channels, has enabled him to make a meaningful and positive impact on the art market community. Hong's steadfast commitment to excellence, his exceptional leadership abilities, and his capacity for creative and unconventional thinking, make him an invaluable addition to the Focus art fair.
Taye Yun I Operations manager
Taye is a multidisciplinary professional who launched his career in the fashion industry, where he gained expertise in design, marketing, branding, and operations. He has since expanded his reach to oversee the successful launch of numerous startups across the arts, music, F&B, and fashion sectors, utilizing his strategic storytelling skills to help brands carve out unique, niche positions in their respective markets.
Won Lee I Executive Advisor
Won Lee is a network builder in the art, fashion, entertainment, and design industries.
He has been working for the industries since 1994. Based on his experience, he founded
X8M, X8Eyewear and X8 ventures.
He was the former CEO and CCO of Gentle Monster USA. Outside of his tenure at Gentle Monster has had an eclectically creative background developing hospitality projects with mega real estate groups such as CBRE, Prodigy and Soho House, as well as a $50M Media/Light Art project in Jeju Island, South Korea.
He has been working for the industries since 1994. Based on his experience, he founded
X8M, X8Eyewear and X8 ventures.
He was the former CEO and CCO of Gentle Monster USA. Outside of his tenure at Gentle Monster has had an eclectically creative background developing hospitality projects with mega real estate groups such as CBRE, Prodigy and Soho House, as well as a $50M Media/Light Art project in Jeju Island, South Korea.
Eriko Ozaki I Head of VIP & public relations
Eriko believes that art has the power to transcend borders and overcome all the differences and conflicts to freely express, share, and make people happy. She joined the FOCUS Team because she shares their commitment to this theme with staff from all over the world, from the Far East to the Americas, with the headquarter in Europe. Utilizing her career in a Global IT company and leading the Customer Success business, she takes great pleasure in connecting artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts around the world.
June Lim I Head of VIP & public relations
June is the Regional Head of VIP Relations & Communications at Focus Art Fair, overseeing various VIP strategies and initiatives in the Tri-State Area. Before Focus New York, she gained exposure to multiple cross-functional disciplines as a freelance translator, journalist, paralegal, public/corporate accountant, and financial analyst. June’s multi-faceted career across functions and industries has given her the edge to build and support fair development and manage effective communications with various clients and partners.
Jay Heo I Marketing & Communications manager
We are pleased to welcome Jay to our Marketing and Communications team at Focus Art Fair. With four years of experience in fashion, luxury, and digital marketing, Jay brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team. Her background in high-end clientele and creative skills will be invaluable as we continue to grow and serve our clients in the art scene. We are thrilled to have Jay as a part of our team and look forward to the contributions she will make.
Marketing & Communications
Curators
Lee I Artistic Director
Lee as the Artistic Director of the Focus Art Fair, which is based in Paris and curates international exhibitions and fairs in Paris, London, and New York. With more than a decade of experience in the art market, Lee has been curating the Focus Art Fair since 2019, with a primary focus on discovering emerging galleries and artists through a global perspective and expanding their presence overseas. Departing from traditional frameworks, Lee strives to challenge the audience's preconceptions while emphasizing communication through exhibition curation and contributing to public art projects. With a wealth of experience in the art world, Lee has established a unique approach to curating that incorporates interdisciplinary techniques and innovative strategies to create immersive and engaging exhibition experiences. Lee's expertise in art curation and her dedication to pushing boundaries in the field make her a highly respected and sought-after figure in the international art community.
Oksana Kononchuk I Curator manager
Oksana has been part of FOCUS Art Fair from very beginning in 2020. She is a curator residing in Japan, where she is building a strong connections in Tokyo’s art scene. In addition to Japanese galleries and artists she is working with the galleries and artists from whole over the world. She is also a part of meta verse project Edoverse, exploring new potential future that web3 can bring into our lives.
Hyorim Hailey Kong I Curator manager
Hailey lives in awe of the vast world that a single work of art can capture. She studied art history for her BA and art management for her MA and has worked as a curator at several institutions, including art museum. As much as she loves the aesthetic beauty of every piece of art, she has recently become interested in the possibilities that technology and art can create together. She is interested in topics that have long been discussed in the art scene, such as media art and art archives, but also in the new discourses that digitally-oriented artwork can create.
Kahye Kim I Curator manager
Kahye is a tenacious and enterprising curator who has dedicated her studies to the intersection of business management and arts. Her years of experience in curating exhibitions have honed her expertise in art curation strategies, positioning her as a valuable asset to the art world. She relocated to Paris where she immersed herself in various exhibitions and fairs, demonstrating an unwavering passion for the arts. Combining business acumen with her artistic sensibility, Kahye brings a fresh perspective to the industry, leveraging her innovative approach to make a significant impact as a curator.
Manuela Cabrales I Curator
Born in Colombia and based in London, holds a Master's degree in Textiles and Curatorial Management. She possesses a range of skills including curatorial planning, art writing, and exhibition management. She is also a co-founder of Artnomad Curators with previous work experience at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Lo schermo dell’arte.
Design
Storyteller
Je-Uk Kim I Spatial strategist
Je-Uk has over 20 years of experience working and teaching in New York, Copenhagen and London subsequently founding his own studio in 2012. His London studio works on a broad range of project types and scales ranging from architectural projects to furniture, and creative/art directing with a multidisciplinary design approach deeply rooted in architecture.
Rora Leeau I Designer
Rora is a highly experienced designer, with over a decade of experience in the field. Since 2019, she has been serving as the lead designer for Focus Art Fair, where she is responsible for overseeing theoverall design of the fair. Her work has garnered widespread acclaim, as she consistently delivers designs that perfectly capture the unique identity of the event, which is planned around a central concept each year. Rora possesses an exceptional international sense, which allows her to incorporate diverse cultural influences into her designs and create visually striking and impactful experiences for visitors. With her keen eye for detail, her ability to think outside the box, and her unwavering commitment to quality, Rora is an indispensable asset to the Focus Art Fair team.
MIJU I Storyteller
MIJU is a teaching artist and creator living in a small mining town. She studied Multimedia and Culture Technology in Korea, and Art Theory in France. She made her debut as a writer in 2009, with the SF novella Biography of Iron Immortal (철선전). She also works in animation and design.
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