Statement
I believe that learning is a lifelong journey, and that maintaining one’s cultural roots is essential to personal identity. My work reflects the blending of traditions from Korea, China, Japan, and the United States—cultures that have shaped my life and artistic practice. Through painting and mixed media, I explore how heritage can be honored while also evolving within a contemporary American context. My goal is to share the beauty, discipline, and philosophy of Asian art forms while embracing the diversity of the community I live in. By integrating meaningful elements from my cultural background into my artwork, I hope to inspire others to appreciate their own heritage and contribute positively to the cultural fabric of our society.
Bio
Patsy Surh O’Connell is an award‑winning Korean American artist and cultural leader. She is the recipient of the Korean President Moon Jae‑in’s 2019 Cultural Development Award and Governor Jay Inslee’s 2018 Arts and Cultural Award. Born in Shanghai, China to Korean parents, she spent her early years in Korea before immigrating to the United States in 1963 as a student. She later graduated in Interior Design in San Francisco and has lived in Gig Harbor, Washington since 1985. Her artistic training spans Korea, Japan, China, and the United States, studying Chinese ink painting, Sumi‑e, oil, watercolor, pastel, acrylic, lapidary, weaving, pottery, quilting, and batik. She has exhibited widely in juried shows and her works are held in private collections in Korea, Japan, Sweden, and the United States. Patsy has served two terms as an Arts Commissioner for the Washington State Arts Commission (1996–2003) and two terms on the Board of Trustees for the Western States Arts Federation (1997–2004). In 1996, she founded the Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) in Tacoma, representing 47 countries and cultures of Asia and the Pacific Islands. APCC’s mission is to bridge communities and generations through arts, culture, education, and business. She has taught water media at the college level for 37 years, served as a juror, and currently serves as President of the Korean American Artists of Washington (KAAW). She is also a member of Women Painters of Washington, a Signature Life Member of the Northwest Watercolor Society, and affiliated with Puget Sound Sumi Artists, Overseas Chinese Artists Association, and Peninsula Art League.
