Dabin Ahn

We are pleased to announce 'Golden Days,' a solo exhibition by Dabin Ahn opening at our Los Angeles gallery on January 17, 2026. Dabin Ahn (b. 1988, Seoul, Korea; lives and works in Chicago, IL) creates paintings populated by flora, fauna, vessels, candles, and ceramic fragments, motifs that function as representations of the self. Ahn’s paintings also incorporate sculptural elements such as hand-built frames that part to reveal images along the canvas edges. Light plays a central role in the artist’s lexicon, suggesting an illuminating presence even when its source is hidden. These elements collectively blur the boundaries between the material and the imagined, evoking an emotional depth reflective of the human experience. ——— @dabinahn #DabinAhn Dabin Ahn Repose, 2025 Oil on linen and walnut 19 x 13 inches 48 x 33 cm.

Excited to be returning to Frieze New York this week, showing a new work with @francoisghebaly as part of a joint presentation with Almeida & Dale. — Recollection, 2026 Oil on linen over panel, plexiglass, single-board computer, LCD displays with videos, cables, power supply, hardware, walnut 18.5 x 24 in. 47 × 61 cm.

CHICAGO | My solo exhibition opens at @documentspace this Friday, March 27, from 5–8pm. I’ll be at the opening reception — looking forward to seeing you all there! — The Four Seasons, 2026 Oil on linen over panel, plexiglass, single-board computer, LCD display, cables, power supply, hardware, and walnut 18.5 x 13 inches 47 x 33 cm.

I had the pleasure of spending time with @__kyledunn__ in his Brooklyn studio🌼 The studio was filled with subtle indications of years of accumulation — I really enjoyed our conversation, which extended far beyond the technical aspects. Thank you, Kyle, for the invite and for showing me the works in progress. Can’t wait to be blown away by your next show!✨

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with a free artist talk at the DAM! Join the Arts of Asia department for a special conversation with Chicago-based artist Dabin Ahn (@dabinahn ) on May 26, 6-7pm, led by curator Hyonjeong Kim Han (@hjkimhan ), which is free to attend! Be among the first to see the artist’s new work, “Repose,” now part of the museum’s permanent collection (pictured here). Subtle and ultra-surreal, “Repose” almost appears photographic at first glance. Look closely and you’ll notice sparkling details that add a human touch, like traces of time, labor, or sweat on a historic celadon jar faintly suggested in the painting. The work explores longing, nostalgia, family, and time. The two Korean characters through the eyeglasses are 'ah 아' and 'ppa 빠.' Appa 아빠 means dad in Korean. The eyeglasses and watch are depicted exactly like those of Dabin's father, who passed away in January of this year. Dabin's father, AHN Sung Ki was a respected, eminent actor in Korea. The painting was completed shortly before his death. Through looking at this work, we invite you to reflect on time, relationships, memory, and yourself. Get tickets to attend this free artist talk at the link in our bio. Artwork: Dabin Ahn 안다빈, "Repose," 2025. Oil paint and walnut on linen; 19 × 13 in. Denver Art Museum: Arts of Asia acquisition funds, 2026.241. Photos courtesy of the artist and François Ghebaly, Los Angeles, New York. Please note: this artwork is not currently on view.

Detail of a new painting – for Frieze NY

SCA Benefit Gala at @artinstitutechi 💖

Museum acquisition: I’m honored to share that my work Repose (2025) has been acquired for the permanent collection of the Denver Art Museum. For those in Denver, I’ll be giving an artist talk at the museum on May 26, 6–7pm — It’s a free event, and registration is now open. Grateful to @francoisghebaly and @denverartmuseum for their support in making this possible. 저에게 특별한 의미가 있는 작품 ‘Repose (2025)’가 Denver Art Museum에 영구 소장되었습니다. 소장 이후 처음으로 관람객들에게 공개되는 5월 26일에는 아티스트 토크가 예정되어 있습니다. 무료 행사이며 현재 사전 등록이 진행 중입니다. 덴버에 거주하시는 한인분들의 많은 관심 부탁드립니다.

This work uses single-board computers, each programmed to loop a video compilation—footage of Seoul on the left and Chicago on the right. The Four Seasons: Spring (Seoul, Chicago), 2026 Oil on linen over panel, plexiglass, single-board computer, LCD displays with videos, cables, power supply, hardware, walnut 20 x 20 in. 50.8 x 50.8 cm.

What a magical week✨ @expochicago ❤️@documentspace 🖤

Sculptural works currently on view at my solo exhibition @documentspace

EXPO Chicago is in full swing—my first time participating in the fair in the 12 years I’ve lived in the city. I’ve been really enjoying the energy and the opportunity to share more about my practice with those stopping by the booth, as well as my show at @documentspace I’ll be at booth 309 for the remainder of the fair. My show at Document is open today until 6pm, tomorrow and Monday by appointment.