Conversations with Kelly Pi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Pi.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Born in South Korea with Chinese father and Korean mother. At the age of 14, our family moved to Kobe, Japan, then I ventured out to Taiwan, USA, Europe, then at last, have settled in LA since 2010.

For my early education, I’ve learned numbers of Chinese and Asian arts, including paper carving, mask making and origami, calligraphy. Although the Chinese school in Korea I’ve attended is underfunded due to complicated political circumstances, they have an affirmative mission to pass on the cultural heritage to those Chinese born in Korea.

For many years, I have been focusing on my career, managing a business with my father, then eventually running my own retail business in steel industry, and put aside of my early dream of being a film maker or an artist. In 2023, when my beloved father passed away, with my friend’s encouragement, I started searching for mediums to express myself. I put a sign on my wall says, “I am an artist”.

Photography is an art form never left me, so it was easy to pick up from there. I started to using my photos to do paper carving. Then I added Chinese calligraphy, origami, mask making, I basically have waken the 10-year-old myself.

Recently, I’ve also learned Kingtsugi (a Japanese traditional way of mending broken ceramic), and now I am teaching Kintsugi at POJ Studio (https://us.pojstudio.com/) located in Culver City.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road was cut off for many years under the names of obligation, responsibility and stability. As the first child of my family, and the first generation of a immigration family, I couldn’t bear the idea that my parents worrying I am pursuing a career with uncertain future. I did not want to depending on them financially. The most important value of life for me is to be independent.

After graduating from a Japanese university in Tokyo, I moved to Taiwan to run a business with my father. Working with your parent professionally was not a easy task. Expectations generate disappointment, and it is hardest thing could ever happen to a family. Eventually, we became great partners, provided resources to our family, and I built up my career.

Even after securing my independency, I had self-esteem issue, never thought that my art is worth showing to the public. I had self-double and it was the most difficult obstacle I had to face. A little voice in my head trying to belittle me, deny me. Luckily, with friends and family’s support and encouragement, and a great therapy, I found my way back the road to be an artist. Once I decided to pursue this route, finding my medium for self-expression was not that difficult, it turned out. All those life-experiences, friendships, traveling, museum visits, exposure to different cultures, arts, literature, history, philosophy, movies, and many others paved me a strong foundation for my art.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I primarily work with paper with 3 colors, black, white and red. Paper is easy to get, light, cheap, recyclable. With paper, I carve, fold, write on, and mash.

Paper carving or paper cutting (similar to paper silhouette art) is a Chinese folk art. Traditionally, it is done with red paper with Chinese cultural motif, but I brought a modern twist by using my photos, and alternating negative and positive spaces to make it playful. My black and white paper carving is deeply imbedded in zen buddhism (transient nature for everything and nothingness) and taoism (In Yang). I also combining origami design into my paper carving ,many intriguing geometric shapes.

Calligraphy, something used to be my homework for 6 years, became a self-expression for my love and appreciation towards Chinese characters. It is such a cool art form.

By mashing paper (old magazines), I make paper mache. Drying it is the longest process.

My art utilizes all natural materials, ink, paper, natural glue, red hemp thread, symbolizing transient nature of everything. I reuse materials, such as coffee bean bag, gift box, wrapping papers, old magazines, books, milk bottle and so on. I do not use harsh chemical to coat my art so that it would last a long time. If it wears away, let it be. Nothing lasts forever.

I am proud that I incorporate my diverse cultural background, Asian philosophy with modern medium. My life is between east and west, I live in a city which is a bridge of east and west. My goal of life is to bring joy to people, connect people and ideas, so that we can grow together by embracing all the differences.

Following is the introductory of my solo art exhibition on 11/2/2025.

‘(Be+Love) Yourself’ is a very 1st solo art exhibition by a modest artist pisqure, aka Kelly Pi resides in DTLA. (Pisqure) has been weaving through various cultures for decades, from the East to the West. However, her strong artistic foundation comes from the Chinese school art classes including paper cutting, origami, mask making and calligraphy and etc. These artistic principles imbedded deeply in her creative cells since 10.

Black + White
Negative + Positive Space
Paper + Ink
Kintsugi
Red Tread
are the essential elements for (pisquare)’s child-like, goofy+whimsical yet profound artistic expression.

Within a frame work (square), (pisquare) embarks a journey to discover herself. In this exhibition, she shares her Vulnerability, Resilience, Joy and Gratitude through her every cuts and folds, and brush strokes. With the red thread, she connects her art to you and the world.

Her medium implies the transient nature of things, including our beings. And her Kintsugi emphasizes this implication with gold accent. Imperfect is Perfect. Just like every one of us.

‘Art is not about perfection or praise
It is about discovering who you are
Letting your soul breath
And growing into every beautiful mistakes and honest attempt
Find the joy in simply creating
And you will find yourself’

Art is a journey for soul

Express oneself
One has to know oneself
How to know oneself
Love not fear

Pricing:

• 150~

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pisqaure/

Image Credits
Andrew Brilliant
Kelly Pi