ETA Gallery is excited to announce our inaugural pop-up exhibition, Muted Realities. In collaboration with Werkshop Coffee Co, an independent, Asian-owned coffee shop in Brooklyn, New York, the exhibition features the works of two rising artists in contemporary art: Mi Chen and Oojin Kim.
The opening reception, held on July 25th, 2024, at Werkshop Coffee Co, welcomed approximately 100 visitors from across New York State. Attendees enjoyed specialty coffee drinks and an open bar as they connected over shared passions for contemporary art and engaged with the thought-provoking works on display.
Mi Chen’s ceramic art explores themes of nostalgia, using heavy materials to evoke the weight of emotional experiences. The contrast between the solidity of the medium and the ephemeral nature of memory is central to her work. Chen’s delicate use of glazing highlights the tender, almost reverent care embedded in each piece.
Oojin Kim, meanwhile, engages with the concept of emptiness through his use of heavy materials combined with AI-generated, generic messages. By intentionally stripping away emotional content, Kim creates a sense of ambiguity that paradoxically reveals more about the artist’s inner world. The choice of a coffee shop as the venue further accentuates this dynamic, reflecting the tension between art as decoration and art as meaningful expression. Like an empty vessel that still holds form, Kim’s work subtly exposes the artist’s identity even as it seeks to obscure it.
On top of the talented artists, we employed fonts created by AAPI young designers Amanda Guo and Dohee Lee (leedotype) for all the graphic design materials. Our trilingual exhibition statement also reflects the purpose of connecting diverse audiences.
The exhibition runs through September 13th and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Werkshop Coffee Co. We encourage you to visit, experience the artwork, and enjoy the distinctive coffee offerings at Werkshop Coffee.
Date & Time
July 25 – September 13, 2024 | 8 AM – 4 PM
Opening Reception
July 25, 2024
Artist
Mi Chen, Oojin Kim
Location
181 Irving Ave. Brooklyn, NY, 11237
Contact
For more information, please visit
About Gallery
ETA is a contemporary pop-up gallery and collective based in Brooklyn, New York. The gallery is committed to making contemporary art enjoyable and accessible to all. ETA partners with local venues to support independent businesses and international artists. The abbreviation ETA stands for Estimated Time of Arrival, reflecting the unpredictable nature of the next exhibition location. We aim to assist first-time and young art buyers to kick start their collecting journey.
(text & photo courtesy of ETA Gallery)
