15 Vibrant Artworks Recreating Human Figures By Korean Artist Taeil Kim

Taeil Kim, a Seoul-born artist, traces the start of his creative journey to the question, “How will I observe and re-create the figure?” He draws inspiration from quiet, everyday interactions with nature, and his art carries echoes of Rembrandt and 19th-century Impressionism. Kim’s cohesive body of work uses a dramatic, deeply expressive style to portray his surroundings, the unique people he observes, and the distinctive communities he encounters.

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He explains his artistic motivations: “I have always been drawn to the human figure — not only as a visual subject but as a vessel for expressing vulnerability, beauty, and the tension between reality and ideality. My ongoing Castrato series explores transformation and inner resonance, inspired by the fragility of existence and the silent strength within the human condition.”

On his creative process, Kim notes, “My process begins with quiet observation — of form, silence, and emotion. I build layers of oil paint slowly, creating subtle depth with tone and light. Sometimes, I use thread-like lines reminiscent of embroidery to emphasise fragility and the tactile rhythm of life. Each work becomes a dialogue between the visible and the invisible—between what is real and what is ideal.”

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