David Heo

David Heo (B. 1992, Georgia) is a Chicago-based artist. He received his Master of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In recent works, Heo commonly utilizes history, to illustrate a range of folklore from grand, mythic metanarratives to quiet frames of daily life. Heo renders the traditional into the contemporary as he processes his personal experiences at the moment. By using the symbology classic to historical paintings and illustrations of mythology and folklore—the horse, the tiger, the dog—Heo typologies the people he meets and interactions during nights out. Heo’s work has been exhibited internationally and featured in various publications.

Could you tell us a little more about your background, and how did you begin creating art?

 I’ve always loved creating art, that’s how I got into it. From a young age, I knew that I was going to pursue something “artistic” as a career. I just didn’t know what exactly. In high school, I got into tattooing and thought that was my calling. But It wasn’t until I moved to Chicago that I realized tattooing wasn’t for me. That realization derailed my plans. Naturally, I was lost for a while, floated by, and worked a lot in the service industry. This transitional period of my life ended up being super important because it dawned on me how unhappy I was. After that moment, that’s when I started to seriously pursue the idea of a “working artist” as a career.

 What does your art aim to say to the viewers? 

 Relatability is the first word that I want someone to think or feel when viewing my works. Most of my art is quasi-autobiographical, but I’m not trying to present MY stories. I know everything I see or feel in my life isn’t only unique to me. I’m not the only human to experience stuff like sadness, desire, tension, lust, or aggression. Everyone in the world, for sure, has experienced their version of this spectrum. I think that’s why the dynamics of the human experience is really one of my biggest inspirations. 

 Do you have an essential philosophy that guides you in your creative expression?

 I don’t think so? Or at least I haven’t discovered one yet. Although, there’s a running inside joke I have with some friends that actually ended up being adopted as kind of a life philosophy for us: “Don’t let your dreams be dreams” (laughs)

 4) What art marketing activity do you put into practice regularly that works most successfully for you?

 The honest answer? Actively giving a shit (laughs) After graduate school, I quickly realized that my role as a visual artist was not to only make art and expect everyone else to be responsible for the rest of the stuff. I want to continually keep learning and growing every damn day. So I decided to treat every single aspect of my practice and career with as much seriousness and attentiveness as I do with creating.

 Can you tell us about the process of creating your work? What is your daily routine when working?

 So before the pandemic, I did have this strict daily ritual before I went into studio-mode. After months of quarantine and social distancing, that’s straight-up all gone. I haven’t found a substitute structure or readapted a new daily ritual. But, recently, I’ve been going on a lot more walks while listening to music. It’s during this time, my brain turns on and drafts up with, “what do I want to make today?” 

 How much planning goes into each artwork?

 There’s not that much meticulous planning involved with my work. When I have an idea, I’ll do a rough sketch for composition and usually pick out 3 or 4 colors that’ll be the “core.” After that’s all done, I just wing it and respond to each move or mark as I work.

 What’s the essential element in your art?

 I don’t know the exact answer to that (laughs) If I had to choose though, maybe, material growth? With each new piece I make, I like to take baby steps advancements of technical exploration. I’ll subtly try out new materials or techniques in one work, learn from it, and expand upon that move further in the next piece I make. Baby steps.

 In your opinion, what role does the artist have in society? 

 That’s always a tough question. Because I think the exact answer will always be shifting in response to the current energy of society. There are so many factors like the current political or social state, that are forever reshaping that energy. But right now, I firmly believe maintaining resilience and earnestly creating in response to everything happening right now is so so important. The world feels like it’s on fire, and people sincerely need art more than ever. At the moment, I believe the artist’s role is to be an empathetic and civically engaged conduit for inspiration and education for others. 

 Are there any projects you are currently working on and able to speak about? 

 I think there’s a couple of things I’m allowed to talk about! Some upcoming stuff that’s pretty cool is that I’m working with Muros to help build out a new property development project in Honolulu, Hawaii, that’ll be aesthetically based on one of my paintings. Tandemly, I’m talking with one of my favorite Chicago-based businesses, Asrai Garden, and we’re planning on creating something beautiful. 

Website: www.davidheo.com

Instagram: @davheo