Art Exhibit Hours:
Wed – Fri: 10 AM – 5 PM
Sat: 10 AM – 3 PM
EXHIBITION DATES: July 11 – August 29, 2026
RECEPTION: Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 11:00 A.M. –1:00 P.M.
The Firehouse Arts Center is excited to present HJ Chae’s solo exhibition, “Topography of the Reminiscape,” in the foyer from July 11 until August 29, 2026. Featuring 16 works of oil on canvas, Chae explores the technicality of mapwork and aspects of meteorology in a renewed language of colors and composition.
In light of her solo exhibition, the artist has released the following statement—
“My work explores the space between visual data and imagination, translating satellite imagery, maps, and digital portraits into the language of painting. It began with simple neighborhood landscapes segmented by fences—physical barriers that prompted me to imagine what lies hidden beyond. This fascination expanded into cartographic landscapes, where the distortions and gaps in satellite data became new gateways for abstract painting. In this solo exhibition of 16 oil paintings, I treat these flawed technological views not as objective facts, but as psychological maps of memory and longing.
The central focus of my work is the tension between man-made grid structures and the fluid freedom of what remains unrecorded. I use rigid geometry, such as vertical lines and horizontal fence slats, to divide the canvas. These structures mimic the internal filters through which we process and screen our memories. Through the deliberate use of line, color, and form, I reconstruct the missing pieces within these mismatched structures. As vibrant streaks of light spill over the boundaries, the paintings expose the limits of digital representation, proving that our inner worlds can never be fully compartmentalized.
The term “reminiscape” refers to a landscape of memory that feels deeply intuitive yet is shaped by nostalgia. By contrasting the heavy, tactile quality of oil paint with the weightless imagery of clouds and sunsets, I seek to reimagine the world beyond flat digital screens. Ultimately, this exhibition is an invitation to follow the fractures in my painted lines, uncovering the fragments of identity, untold stories, and erased presences that linger between data and memory.“
HJ Chae is a visual artist and art educator whose multidisciplinary background spans fine arts, performance studies, and expressive arts therapy. Born in Korea, Chae earned both a BFA and an MFA in Painting from Hongik University in Seoul, Korea before expanding her creative horizons in the United States. She holds an MA in Performance Studies from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, completed advanced coursework in Dance and Technology at Ohio State University, and received a certification in Expressive Arts Therapy from JFK University. This diverse academic lineage deeply informs her painterly practice, enriching her exploration of space, memory, and perception.
Throughout her career, Chae has built a robust international presence, exhibiting her work across the United States, South Korea, and France. Her dynamic exhibition history includes nine solo exhibitions and numerous curated group shows at prominent venues, such as the Triton Museum of Art, the Firehouse Art Center, Blue Stream Gallery, and the SFGH Foundation’s Hearts in SF exhibition at the Ferry Building. Additionally, her paintings have been featured in major international art fairs, including the San Francisco Art Market, the Seoul Art Show, and the PLAS Art Fair at CoEX Hall. Her evocative oil paintings are held in numerous private collections worldwide, spanning France, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, South Korea, and the United States.
In tandem with her studio practice, Chae is a dedicated cultural leader and educator. Since 2017, she has served as the Director and Art Educator at spaceIN Art Studio in Pleasanton, California, where she designs innovative curricula and curates community art exhibitions. Her extensive pedagogical experience includes teaching at Purdue University’s Gifted Education Resource Institute and working with major cultural institutions like the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Uncovering the unspoken narratives hidden beneath the surface of everyday screens, Chae continues to create layered, contemplative works that explore our inner worlds.
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