Inside the Art, Outside Ourselves is a series of workshops that each invite you to spend time reflecting on a specific artwork from our main exhibition, An Invisible Current: Engaging with History, curated by Epiphany Knedler & Tim Rickett. Through guiding prompts and conversation, we encourage you to dig deeper into the work, think meaningfully about the ideas presented, and to respond with drawing or writing exercises. Artists to be featured include Cody Henrichs, Leah Schretenthaler, and Cory Knedler & Young Ae Kim.
This month, we’ll be looking at Cory Knedler & Young Ae Kim collaborative works and talking about trust & respect.
Cory Knedler:
My work explores how education, memory, and identity shift over time through layered printmaking and mixed media processes. I am drawn to repetition—not only as a visual strategy but as a reflection of cycles in behavior, history, and personal experience. Using texture, mark-making, and transparent layering, I aim to create compositions that invite viewers to pause, reflect, and resonate with what they see. Collaboration is central to my artistic practice. I believe shared creative experiences foster meaningful dialogue, especially across cultural and generational divides. Many of my collaborative works are made through an exchange process: two or more artists contribute to the same piece by responding to one another’s marks, symbols, and choices. These layered interactions create visual conversations rich in contrast, connection, and surprise. The resulting work often reflects ideas and discoveries that none of us could have reached alone. There is a spirit of play and generosity in these collaborations—qualities I bring into both studio and classroom settings. As an educator and arts leader, I am deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of artists through mentorship, access, and inclusive programming. I view teaching and studio practice as deeply intertwined: my work in the classroom sharpens my perspective as an artist, and my creative research informs how I teach. At the core of both is a belief in the transformative potential of art to foster curiosity, dialogue, and collective understanding.
Young Ae Kim:
Young Ae Kim is a UX & UI researcher, graphic designer, educator, illustrator, painter, and international speaker originally from Seoul, Korea, and currently based in South Dakota. With over 18 years of global experience in graphic and product design, she has worked with major international clients including Samsung, LG, Hyundai, Nike, Belvita, Citi Bank, Baskin Robbins, and Sanford Health. Her expertise bridges innovative design with human-centered research, particularly in information architecture, wayfinding systems, and emotional UX/UI design. Kim is a Professor of Graphic Design at the University of South Dakota, where founded South Dakota’s first and only MFA in Graphic Design. She holds an MFA in Graphic Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a Ph.D. in Human Factors Psychology with a UX/UI focus from the University of South Dakota. Her academic research examines how visual design can generate and sustain positive emotional responses across the user journey. She has presented internationally at leading conferences in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. An award-winning designer and grant recipient, Kim is a member of professional organizations including AIGA, HFES, and AHFE. Her current creative practice includes paintings that blend Asian pop culture imagery with contemporary, news-driven themes, challenging cultural narratives through color, symbolism, and character illustrations.