Songnyeo Lyoo

Songnyeo Lyoo (b. 1983, South Korea) is a Korean artist based in Düsseldorf, Germany, whose work, rooted in Buddhist philosophy and aesthetics, blends traditional Korean and Asian painting techniques with contemporary perspectives. She studied Buddhist Art at Dongguk University in Seoul and completed her degree in Painting at the University of Art & Design in Offenbach, Germany.

Songnyeo’s work explores themes of nature, idealized realms, and personal reflection. Using ink, color, and gold powder on rice paper, she creates intricate, dreamlike landscapes that weave plants, animals, and figures into harmonious, serene compositions. Her use of traditional pigments lends a delicate vibrancy to her work, inviting viewers into spaces that feel both familiar and transcendent.

Her background in Buddhist art and her life in Germany bring a meditative and contemplative quality to her practice. Through refined brushwork and subtle color gradations, Songnyeo connects Eastern philosophy with a modern aesthetic, encouraging a sense of calm and introspection in her art.

Songnyeo Lyoo’s work has been exhibited widely across Asia, the U.S., the Middle East, and Europe, including recent shows at NordArt (Büdelsdorf, Germany, 2024), Die Grosse (Düsseldorf, Germany, 2024), Fragile Objects at Cindy Rucker Gallery (New York, USA, 2023), The Ecology of the Self at Miles McEnery Gallery (New York, USA, 2023), Salon der Künstlerinnen at Museum Kurhaus Kleve (Kleve, Germany, 2022), and Ceramic Art London at Central Saint Martins (London, UK, 2016). Her work has also been exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy (Edinburgh, Scotland) and Kunstpalast (Düsseldorf, Germany).