변민경(Minkyung Byeon)
Illustrator
based in Seoul, South Korea
삶의 연소 속, 사소한 감정을
그림에 담습니다.
서울을 기반으로 활동하는 일러스트레이터 변민경은 잉크와 아크릴 과슈를
사용해 감각적이고 회화적인 작업을 선보입니다. 고대 민화와 자수 패턴에서
영감을 받아, 정적인 레이아웃과 엔틱한 분위기 위에 대담한 보색과
유쾌한 위트를 더합니다.
일상의 소소한 순간, 여행지에서의 시선, 식물과 동물의 움직임 속에서 ‘건강, 사랑, 행복’이라는 삶의 본질을 포착하는 것이 작업의 중심입니다.
그녀는 삶을 ‘연소하는 과정’이라 정의하며, 지극히 평범한 하루 속에서 반짝이는 감정들을 발견하고자 합니다. 무표정한 얼굴에 생생한 색을 입히고, 정적 구도 안에 유쾌한 리듬을 담아내는 방식으로, 작고 소중한 아름다움을 시각적으로 이야기합니다.
“꿈을 꾸는 사람의 눈에는 별이 박혀 있더라고요.
제 그림을 보는 이들에게 그 별을 전하고 싶습니다.”
제 그림을 보는 이들에게 그 별을 전하고 싶습니다.”
Capturing quiet emotions in the slow burn of life
Based in Seoul, Min Kyung Byun captures fleeting emotions within the slow burn of life through her illustrations.
She works primarily with ink and acrylic gouache, creating painterly and expressive pieces. Drawing inspiration from traditional Korean folk paintings and embroidery patterns, her work blends antique stillness with bold color contrasts and a playful, witty touch.
Her illustrations center around the essence of life—health, love, and happiness—found in ordinary moments: a passing glance on a journey, the gentle gaze of plants or animals, or the quiet rhythm of daily life.
Byun sees life as a process of combustion—a steady burn—and seeks to catch the small, sparkling emotions that often slip by unnoticed. Through vivid color on expressionless faces and vibrant rhythms within static compositions, she transforms the subtle into the striking.
“I’ve come to believe that dreamers have stars in their eyes.
I hope to share some of those stars through my work.”
Education
2023-2024, Artist Community (AC)
2014-2015, Korea Design Membership (kidp)
2011-2016, BD in Visual Communication Design at CNU
Exhibition
2025, Pink Art Fair (group exhibition), JW Marriott Hotel, Seoul, South Korea
2025, May’s Artist (group exhibition), Leesoo Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2024, Fanfare (group exhibition), Space AC, Seoul, South Korea
2024, Flow_er (group exhibition), Space AC, Seoul, South Korea
2023, The Island of Seeds. (group exhibition), Space AC, Seoul, South Korea
2022, Publishers Table (art fair), MUSINSA Terrace, Seoul, South Korea
2019, 10+2 <My Colllection>,Seoul&Chuncheon (Sangsang madang)
2019, Seoul Illustration Fair (art fair), Coex, Seoul, South Korea
2018, Soso Market (art Fair), Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Seoul, South Korea
2019, Song-do Art Book Fair (art fair), HYUNDAI outlets, Seoul, South Korea
2018, Seoul Illustration Fair (art fair), Coex, Seoul, South Korea
2017, Soso Market (Art Fair), Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Seoul, South Korea
2017, Seoul Design Festival (design fair), Coex, Seoul, South Korea
2016, Seoul Design Festival (design fair), Coex, Seoul, South Korea
2015, Design Korea (design fair), Coex, Seoul, South Korea
2015, Seoul Living Fair (design fair), Coex, Seoul, South Korea
2014, Seoul Design Festival (design fair), Seoul, South Korea
2014, Design Korea (design fair), Seoul, South Korea
2008, Michael Jackson tribute exhibition (group exhibition), Seoul, South Korea
Publication
Minkyung Byeon, 푸른 나비의 춤; Dance of Blue Butterfly, 2024 [Independence]
Minkyung Byeon, 고민이 몽가요; What are you worried about, 2022 [Independence]
Minkyung Byeon, 맥주 한 캔의 이유; Why We Crack Open a Beer, 2018 [Independence]
Minkyung Byeon, 운동보감; The Yoga Treasury, 2016 [Independence]
Awards
2014, Korea International Design Award (winner), Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Korea
2013, Society of Korea illusart (SOKI) (winner), Society of Korea Illusart, Korea
2012, Society of Korea illusart (SOKI) (winner), Society of Korea Illusart, Korea