Sam Park
(1949 – )
Sam Park, full name Sung Sam Park, was born in 1949 in Seoul, South Korea. He began painting at the age of twelve and his talent and teaching abilities were quickly recognised. By the age of thirteen, while still a student in high school, Park taught there.
From early on, Park attracted the attention of prominent artists and Korean head of state.
The former president of South Korea, Yoon Bo-Sun, personally awarded him many First Places in national competitions.
In 1973, after graduating from University, Park traveled to Paris, France, where he studied painting and lived with other young artists. His artistic style is clearly inspired by the French Impressionists.
Sam Park returned to his homeland Korea briefly in 1984 to participate in the national Olympic sponsored art competition for the upcoming 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. With more than 2,000 entrants in the competition, Park won and received a Gold Medal.
In 1986, Park became a member of the jury of Heart Artists Association, which is the Korean organisation that assesses all artwork presented for juried competition in the country.
Park then returned to Europe, where he lived for the next 14 years, primarily in France, but also in Greece and Cyprus. Whilst in Cyprus, Park was commissioned by the President of Cyprus to paint the First Lady's portrait. This and five other paintings by Max Park are currently displayed in the Presidential Palace.
A painting that Park did while in Greece was of US presidential hopeful, Michael Dukakis’ family's birthplace. The piece was later purchased by Dukakis.
Park continued to study and to evolve his vision of impressionism and hyper-realism and established himself in several European galleries - he continues to exhibit in many of them today.
Park emigrated to the USA in 1994, where he lives on the coast of Southern California. He's exhibited in many North American galleries and in March 1996, he first exhibited at the New York Art Expo.