Rangsook Yoon(-Shaw)

I greatly appreciate Observer’s heartwarming write up about my tenure at Sarasota Art Museum. And thanks for mentioning the last exhibition I’m curating, Something Borrowed, Something New, which is opening to Museum members on April 18th. I’m also grateful for your kind quotes from Virginia Shearer who stated: “Rangsook has had a lasting and positive impact on SAM. The quality and appeal of SAM’s exhibitions and her deep commitment to scholarship, all stand as hallmarks of her successful tenure.” She added, “On a personal note, we will greatly miss her collegiality, leadership, and generosity of spirit. We wish her every success in the next chapter of her journey.” I’ll just add that I will also sorely miss all the wonderful, kind community members in Sarasota.

Not the newest news anymore, but it’s time to break my long Instagram hiatus (a year!). I’m elated to share that I will join the @fryeartmuseum in Seattle in late May as Senior Director of Curatorial Affairs. Thank you to everyone who called, texted, congratulated me on Facebook and LinkedIn, and DMed me after the Frye and @jamileelacy shared the news of my appointment last week. It was incredibly heartwarming (and a little overwhelming) to receive so many kind messages. The announcement was also picked up by #Artdaily and @nwasianweekly . Leaving South Florida will be bittersweet after working hard to root myself here since 2013. It was an amazing journey filled with indelible art events and people. I will miss so many incredible folks I’ve encountered, worked with, and befriended in its art communities—especially in Sarasota. Being part of @sarasotaartmuseum , now a six-year-old startup museum, has been a great experience. I’m grateful for the chance to help shape its curatorial vision and contribute to its growth and national visibility. The Frye Executive Director, Jamilee shared that my background in “European Modernism relevant to the Frye’s founding collection, and a proven track record of innovative collaborations with contemporary artists,” made me a “unicorn” candidate. How delightful to hear that! I can’t wait to get to know Seattle’s art community and to be part of the Frye’s wonderful team as it prepares its exciting new era toward its 75th anniversary year in 2027 and beyond. #fryeartmuseum #unicorn #aapi #gowest photo: @harryjsayer

In 1937, artist Lester T. Beall (American, 1903-1969) designed six screen print posters for the Rural Electrification Administration. These posters were meant to communicate to American farmers, many of whom were illiterate, about the benefits of electrifying their homes and farms. After 100 years, these posters remain compelling examples of early graphic design and how simple elements and colors can communicate a clear and compelling message. See these works and more in “Art Deco: The Golden Age of Illustration” on view now through March 29, 2026.

‘Chris Friday: Where We Never Grow Old’ at @sarasotaartmuseum , curated by Rangsook Yoon, Ph.D., senior curator, Sarasota Art Museum. On view until August 10, 2025. “Taking inspiration from themes of nostalgia, family, culture, and spirituality, Friday creates an alternate reality through her art—a world untouched by the hardships and injustices of real life. Tender depictions of Black figures resting peacefully and ceramics representing everyday items that conjure comfort for the artist make up this world, portrayed in a larger-than-life scale.” - Rangsook Yoon @rangsook Stunning and deeply moving! 🌟 Big congratulations to Friday @_kinyobi_ , who continues to marvel us with her clever way of letting us in while at the same time protecting her subjects from our curious gaze 🥰 And hats off to curator Rangsook Yoon, whose thoughtful vision made space for this work to shine: elegant, powerful, and beautifully accessible. ✨ This is Chris Friday’s first museum solo exhibition 💫💫💫 #chrisfriday, #wherewenevergrowold, #sarasotaartmuseum, #rangsookyoon, #artinsarasota, #floridaartist, #artseen365

As the 2024–25 season winds down at @sarasotaartmuseum , I’ve been scrolling through my camera roll, reminiscing about joyful moments with artists, colleagues, and friends. I realized there are quite a few exhibition openings I never got around to posting. It’s been a full, vibrant, and at times challenging season. As I catch my breath and look ahead to the new season starting in June, I’m reminded of all the incredible people and behind-the-scenes efforts that bring these exhibitions to life. Last November, we opened @joefig2000 : Contemplating Vermeer. It’s hard to believe that was already half a year ago! After a beautiful five-month run, the show has now closed, and we’ve since opened two new exhibitions (more on those soon!). Here are a few snapshots from the VIP opening on November 15, 2024. A joyful evening, a proof that we worked hard, got the job well done, and celebrated together in style and with laughter. This exhibition also has special meaning for me. So pleased that it will travel to the New Britain Museum of American Art @nbmaa56 opening this June—more on that soon! It’s the first exhibition I’ve curated that will be presented at a second venue, which feels like an important milestone. Thank you, Joe, for being not only a brilliant artist but also a fantastic collaborator and educator. Working together on your solo show, as well as collaborating to bridge the Museum and Ringling College campuses, has been a true pleasure and deeply rewarding. Thank you, @cristintierney and @whenboeufscry of @cristintierneygallery for your partnership, and to everyone who joined us in celebration. And of course, a shoutout to my curatorial team, @sista_christa_ and @lacielovegood , for everything, including the goofy post-dinner photos at our Bistro. We rock!

My Valentine and this 80-pound pawed love, Caramel, wish you all a cozy Valentine’s Day with your real MVPs (with fur!). ❤️ 🐾 🐾 ❤️#adoptdontshop🐾 #loveisfurever #pandemicpuppy

Hard to believe that it’s already January 18th. Today marked the final day to experience two remarkable exhibitions that opened on October 20th: Claire Ashley: Chromatic Blush and Tammy Nguyen: Timaeus and the Nations. It was an incredible honor and joy to curate and talk about these solo shows side by side in the third-floor galleries at @sarasotaartmuseum . While I’m a bit wistful as we begin deinstalling tomorrow, I’m also deeply grateful for the memories and indelibly powerful exhibitions we created together. Thank you @tammowhammo and @clairehelenashley ! I think back to the opening reception on October 18th and the artist talks the following day, surrounded by artists, colleagues, friends, patrons, museum guides, Visitor Experience Associates, and so many others who made it all so special. Tammy’s adorable daughters brought an extra dose of sweetness and laughter that made the evening unforgettable. Here’s a look back at that wonderful night. A big thank you to Harry @harryjsayer for capturing these wonderful event photos; you always manage to take the most flattering shots! And thank you to everyone who supported these exhibitions and celebrated with us! #tammynguyen #claireashley #sarasotaartmuseum

What a treat it is to be featured in this @srqmag [/company/srq-media-group/interview] “Curating a Vibe”—thank you, Dylan Campbell! The intro captures the work I’ve put my heart into: “In this inquisitive Q&A series, meet Rangsook Yoon, Ph.D, senior curator for the Sarasota Art Museum (SAM) since 2022. She oversees all aspects of the museum’s exhibition programming, leading the curatorial department in an effort to bring some of the world’s most captivating contemporary artists to Sarasota. In fact, she has helped to establish SAM as one of the top contemporary art institutions in the entire Southeast.” This kind of local attention means a lot to me. My work over the past two years has let me embrace and appreciate the Sarasota community, so it’s great to feel some of that love come back to me. And @cleverettart ‘s jazzy version of me? It’s delightful! I love it. (I’ve added a photo of Faz and me at a Depeche Mode concert from October 2023 and several pictures of my cat Sophie here. This written interview was conducted in September-October. Full link 🔗 above.)

Final Skyway 2024 post! @robtarbell ‘s Imbroglio (entanglement) series explore perception vs. reality with his signature smoke-and-mirror technique, creating ghostly, layered portraits. His assemblages titled L’Avouterie (adultery) are both wickedly humorous and thought-provoking. @kirk_ke_wang ‘s GimGong Road, inspired by a local street sign honoring ‘The Citrus Wizard,’ Lue GimGong (1857-1925), reimagines his legacy through a mixed-media painting and sculptural homage. Beyond GimGong’s horticultural contributions, Wang brings forward discussions on LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, and historical perspectives taught in schools. Lastly, @rogerpalmer7491 Roger Palmer’s ‘drawing diaries’ offer philosophical reflections on society, blending humor and sharp observations. His latest series, featured here, often portrays feral cats alongside his witty takes on current events. Words are central to his works—satirical, poetic, and irreverent, they double as titles, adding depth to each piece. #sarasotaartmuseum

Another belated post (sound on!): a 4th video from #skyway 2024 on its final day at #sarasotaartmuseum . Featured here are two works by @madurezyutopia Tatiana Mesa Paján, Island and Piedra, capturing fragmented memories and transient moments of everyday experiences and human desires through her ‘poetic gestures. Her marble sculptures and a stone covered in dandelion seeds are breathtaking. The most recent body of work by @szikszeszter , an interdisciplinary artist and experimental printmaker, showcases evocative video works and printed images of icebergs on eggshells, and confronts the visible impacts of climate change in remote landscapes. Eszter captures the fragility of melting Arctic ice, inviting viewers to reflect on the fleeting nature of existence and urgent environmental issues. Her video works are accompanied by the haunting soundscape of Sounds of Disappearance by Doug Tewksbury @douglas.tewksbury . Sounds on! Willow @willows_wells impeccably blends historical printmaking and landscape genre with contemporary concepts, presenting the human body as a site of constant change or metamorphosis. Included are her etchings, like Resonance, and the surreal hand-drawn animation Consumption, complete with a delightfully eerie squeak of a door opening at one point.

A second video of Skyway 2024: A Contemporary Collaboration on its final day at SAM. @sam_modder Sam’s stunning mural, part of her ongoing series, A Field of Lost Hair Ties, is displayed alongside her original pen drawings, exemplifying her fairytale-like, beautiful portrayals of Black female characters asserting their presence in both real and imagined worlds. @herionparkartist Herion Park’s assemblage sculpture, Remembering to Love, pays tribute to the resilient women in her life, exploring themes of sisterhood and motherhood through spiritual reflections and familial memories. The sculptural heads, crafted from wool felt, brings to mind The White Book by Nobel Prize in Literature winner Han Kang, #hankang resonating with its quiet introspection and depth. #skyway2024 #sarasotaartmuseum

The Basch Gallery features Jill Taffet’s AR mural Sentient Beings along with several smaller AR prints; Sue Havens’ assemblages, ceramics, and paintings on paper; and Gabriel Ramos’ mini-installation showcasing five collaged paintings. @shavens88 @jilltaffet @gabrielramosart