Samantha Yun Wall (b. 1977, Seoul) creates drawings that reflect her experience of navigating transcultural identity as a Black Korean immigrant. She draws inspiration from female archetypes described in global mythologies, folktales, and creation narratives, particularly non-normative female figures such as ghosts, monsters, healers, or storytellers. In her highly detailed, monochromatic images, she reveals how these figures are made alternately invisible or hyper-visible in their roles as social outcasts or even menaces. By deconstructing and reframing these vilified figures, Wall challenges patriarchal norms and stigmatization.
Samantha Yun Wall is the 2024 Betty Bowen Award winner. Established in 1977 to honor the legacy of Betty Bowen—an enthusiastic supporter of Northwest contemporary art—the annual award celebrates a Northwest artist for their original, exceptional, and compelling work.