Hyun Ik Cho

Nik Cho is a painter whose work explores the emotional and psychological complexities of identity, intimacy, and human connection. Through figurative compositions that blend abstraction, vibrant color, and intricate patterns, Cho investigates themes of queer visibility, desire, and the tension between presence and concealment. Their process involves layering, erasure, and reworking, resulting in paintings that reflect the fluid and fragmented nature of memory and identity. Drawing from personal narratives and broader cultural influences, Cho’s work seeks to create moments of tension and vulnerability, inviting viewers to navigate the shifting boundaries between self and other.

‭Nik Cho (b. 1993, Seoul, South Korea) is a Chicago-based painter whose work explores‬ intimacy, identity, and the psychological tension between figures. Rooted in figurative painting,‬ his practice draws from personal and social narratives. He holds both a BFA and MFA in‬ Painting and Drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), where he currently‬ serves as a Teaching Fellow in the Painting and Drawing Department.‬