Where I Want to Be

Myung “Mario” Jung is a South Korea–born painter recognized for richly colored landscapes and still lifes that move between expressive, thick paint handling and tightly controlled realism. Born in Seoul in 1949, he trained at Seoul Industrial Junior College and gained major early recognition in 1986 when he won the Grand Prize for Western-style painting through the Seoul Artists Association’s Exhibition of Fine Art. That early award established him as a serious painter in his home country and set the tone for a career defined by range rather than one fixed look.

Jung’s work is collected for its versatility and technical control, shifting comfortably from bold, textured color fields to quieter, more refined passages depending on the subject. His landscapes often lean into warmth and atmosphere, using color and value to carry the mood, while his still lifes showcase a more precise handling of form and surface. Whether he’s painting flowers, fruit, or open landscape, the throughline is consistency in finish and a clear intent: strong composition first, then color and texture used to reinforce the scene rather than overwhelm it.