EKAH

About

Photo by Jenny Liu. Courtesy of 8 to CREATE - Krannert Art Museum
I am a South Korean-born visual artist who grew up in New York City. My work tells stories visually through the old and the new - drawing, animation, hybrid reality, optical illusion, and interactive art.  The visual worlds are inhabited by characters and environments that may be surreal, absurd, dystopian, or even beautiful. They may be as big as the universe or as small as a petri dish. Part of my work is influenced by growing up in a multicultural environment. My propensity to deviate from expectations and curiosity for things unknown drive the evolution in my work. I work with all media and am agnostic when it comes to tools and styles - traditional, digital, mixed, etc. I am interested in hybrid realities (or extended reality), optical illusions, and visual storytelling. Animation, illustration, interactive/kinetic art, and XR are just some of the areas that keep me busy when I am not already working on related projects.
Bio
I was born in Seoul, South Korea and grew up in New York City.  I received my art education from High School of Art & Design in NYC, then studied Communication Design at Parsons School of Design in New York City and Paris. My professional background is in graphic design and art direction in advertising agencies in New York City.  My interest in 3D/CG led to eventually working in broadcast animation and video games. I have worked with clients such as Jim Henson Productions and Mattel Interactive among others. I have called the following places home - Seoul, Busan, NYC, Paris, San Francisco Bay Area, Orlando, and Montreal, Canada. I currently live in Central Illinois with the most supportive spouse and two cats, who are also my muses.
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Highlights:
"Subsurface" LIGHTBOX Mural at Weiskamp
Photo by Kelly White / 40 North
40 North's 2019 Artist Ace Award
Video still by Five Foot Productions
PechaKucha Night CU - Vol. 25
I was one of the presenters at PechaKucha Night CU Vol. 25 during the Pygmailion Festival 2017. 
My story was titled "The Art of The City of Lost Animals," and the purpose of this exercise was to overcome my fear of public speaking.
https://youtu.be/8U0yJ-LB-IY

“PechaKucha 20x20 is a simple presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The images advance automatically, and you talk along to the images.”
40 North presents Artists at Work
I was profiled in an "Artists at Work" Video Series by 40 North. I am an awkward, public speaker, and this interview is the reason why I decided to speak at PechaKucha a few months later. (see above)
Videography and editing by Amanda Baker / Five Foot Productions.
http://40north.org/programs/artists-work-video-series
Public Art 
“Moveable Feast” - Augmented-Reality Mural. Urbana Arts & Culture Arts Grant.
“Guardians of Memories” - Outdoor installation, The Great ARTdoors 2022 from Spurlock Museum, Urbana Park District, Champaign Park District, 40 North, & Urbana Arts & Culture
"Between Dog and Wolf (Entre Chien et Loup)" - Outdoor Lenticular Installation, The Great ARTdoors 2021 from Spurlock Museum, Urbana Park District, Champaign Park District, 40 North, & Urbana Arts & Culture
“Road to Nowhere” Art on the Fly, Champaign-Urbana Willard Airport and 40 North Champaign County Arts Council 2021
"Convergent Evolution" - The Urbana Utility Box Mural, Urbana Arts & Culture, City of Urbana 2021-2023
“The Magic Lantern II”, Urbana Arts Grant Award 2019, Urbana Arts & Culture, City of Urbana 2020
“Points of View” - The Great ARTdoors 2020 from Spurlock Museum, Urbana Park District, Champaign Park District, 40 North, & Urbana Arts & Culture
“The Pecking Order” Sky Gallery, 40 North & Adams Outdoor, 2018-2020    
“The Magic Lantern”, Urbana Arts Grant Award 2018, Lewis Auditorium, Urbana Free Library 2019
“Subsurface” LIGHTBOX feature art, Weiskamp & 40 North Champaign County Arts Council 2018 – 2019
“Signal-to-Noise Ratio” MTD ART: Moving Pictures Through Your Neighborhood - A public arts program by Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, 40 North, and Dixon Graphics. CU-MTD buses and Illinois Terminal, 2018-2019
“Audition” Commissioned Murals at Stratton Academy of the Arts, Permanent Installation, 2018 – Present
“The Lives of Others” MTD ART: Moving Pictures Through Your Neighborhood - A public arts program by Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, 40 North, and Dixon Graphics. CU-MTD buses and Illinois Terminal, 2018
“8 to Create - 8 artists with 8 hours to create 8 pieces” Link Gallery, Krannert Art Museum, 2018
“Down the Rabbit Hole” MTD ART: Moving Pictures Through Your Neighborhood - A public arts program by Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, 40 North, and Dixon Graphics. CU-MTD buses and Illinois Terminal, 2017 - 2018
“The Fox’s Wedding” Sky Gallery, 40 North & Adams Outdoor, 2017-2018    
“The Commuters” MTD ART: Moving Pictures Through Your Neighborhood - A public arts program by Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, 40 North, and Dixon Graphics. CU-MTD buses and Illinois Terminal, 2017 
“Audition” Sky Gallery, 40 North & Adams Outdoor, 2016 - 2017
“The Bathers” MTD ART: Moving Pictures Through Your Neighborhood - A public arts program by Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, 40 North, and Dixon Graphics. CU-MTD buses and Illinois Terminal, 2016 
Group Exhibitions
Around the Block IV: Artists from Our Neighborhood, Giertz Gallery at Parkland College 2023
ReGroup Art Collective - Boneyard Arts Festival 2023, Champaign, IL
Gallery 112 Group Exhibition- Boneyard Arts Festival 2022
Double Take, Invitational, 40 Point One Gallery, Champaign, IL  2020
Poetic Art, Invitational, Her Creative Collective, Virtual 2020
Busey 1868 Collection, Bi-annual Exhibition, Urbana, IL  2019
Immersion Festival, Urbana, IL 2019
Paper Trail | page 2, A Juried Exhibition, 40 Point One Gallery, Champaign, IL 2019
Lodgic Artists, Invitational, Lodgic Everyday Community, 2019
“Miscellany at Rogards” Boneyard Arts Festival, 2019
8 to Create Alumni Exhibit, Krannert Art Museum, 2019
Busey 1868 Collection, Bi-annual Exhibition, Urbana, IL  2018
The Freak Show, ACME Elfworks, The Lincoln Building, 2018
Urbana Art Expo, Urbana, IL 2018
Plural, A Juried Exhibition, 40 Point One Gallery, Champaign, IL 2018
Different Strokes: Boneyard Arts Festival, 2018
Community Supported Arts Exhibition, 40 Point One Gallery, Champaign, IL 2017
Urbana Art Expo, Urbana, IL 2017
“Me, Myself, & I: Creating Identity” - A Juried Exhibition, 40 Point One Gallery, Champaign, IL 2017
“Paper Trail” - A Juried Exhibition, 40 Point One Gallery, Champaign, IL 2016
“After the Ground” - A Juried Exhibition, 40 Point One Gallery, Champaign, IL 2016
Awards
Artist Ace Award, 40 North Champaign County Arts Council 2019
Urbana Arts Grant Award 2021
Urbana Arts Grant Award 2020
Urbana Arts Grant Award 2019
Urbana Arts Grant Award 2018
 
Publications & Press
“Brief Encounters with Art: Lierman Neighborhood Community Garden”, Debra Domal, Smile Politely
https://www.smilepolitely.com/arts/brief_encounters_with_art_lierman_neighborhood_community_garden/
“Meet the Artist EKAH”, Erin Valle, WCIA - Ci Living, August 6, 2020
https://www.wcia.com/ciliving-tv/meet-mahomet-based-artist-ekah/
Takes on Double Take: A Conversation with Kim Caisse and Kelly White of 40 North, April 30, 2020
“EKAH and The Magic Lantern: a story of technology, animation, and public arts support” Debra Domal, Smile Politely, March 26, 2019
http://www.smilepolitely.com/arts/ekah_and_the_magic_lantern_a_story_of_technology_animation_and_public_arts/
“Meant to be Seen” Anthony Zillis, The News Gazette, November 27, 2019
https://www.news-gazette.com/arts-entertainment/art/champaign-artist-being-honored-for-work-she-once-strived-to/article_c2e99d10-254e-542a-a3e1-fb82101fd7c9.html
Stratton Elementary School Mural, Alexandra Corradetti, The Morning Show, WCIA, December 4, 2018
Voyage Chicago ‘Thought-Provokers: Southside / Celebrating Artists & Creatives’ Feature, August 14, 2018
http://voyagechicago.com/interview/meet-e-k-anna-ekah-hennequet/
“Studio Visit: EKAH” Interview by Melissa Merli, The News-Gazette May 21, 2017
http://www.news-gazette.com/arts-entertainment/local/2017-05-21/studio-visit-ekah-ek-anna-hennequet.html
Video Spotlight
“EKAH - Artist Ace Award” 40 North Champaign County Arts Council & Five Foot Productions, November 2019
https://youtu.be/sMnbSqcoTLs
“40 North Presents Artists at Work: EKAH”, 40 North Champaign County Arts Council, May 2017
http://40north.org/programs/artists-work-video-series
Presentation & Workshops
“Young Artist’s Studio: Accidental Pop Art” Virtual, Urbana Fee Library 2020
Guest lecturer, Maryland Institute College of Art, 2018
Guest speaker, Meet The Pros Series - CUDO & Parkland College Fine & Applied Arts - Presentation on illustration and animation,  September 10, 2018 
Presenter, PechaKucha Champaign-Urbana @ The Pygmalion Festival, September 20, 2017 
Art Festivals
Groove is in the Arts, February 2023
Mistletoe Market, December 2022
Holiday Art Pop-Up Palooza, Online December 2020
Little Red Hut, Urbana, IL, December 2020
Crystal Lake Park Art Fair, Virtual, August 2020
Mistletoe Market, Urbana, IL, December 2019
Holiday Showcase, Allerton Park & Retreat Center, December 2019
Crystal Lake Park Inaugural Art Fair, Urbana, IL August 2019
Heartland Maker Fest, Urbana, IL May 2019
Mistletoe Market, Urbana, IL December 2018
The Made Fest @ The Pygmalion Festival, Urbana, IL September 2018
Hooey Home Show, Urbana, IL February 2018
Mistletoe Market, Urbana, IL December 2019
The Made Fest @ The Pygmalion Festival, Urbana, IL September 2017
Makers on Main, Urbana First Fridays, 2017
Other interesting bits
Autodesk Expert Elite Member 2015 - 2022
Broadcast Designers Award (Many moons ago)
Inside 3D Studio Max 2, Volume 3 Animation, New Riders (MacMillan) Publishing, Contributing Author 
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