Seongbuk Art Week to turn historic sites into galleries through November 1
The Seongbuk Cultural Foundation is hosting the first 2026 Seongbuk Art Week, an event that turns local alleys, gardens, and historic homes into exhibition spaces to highlight the lives of artists and the region's cultural heritage.
The Seongbuk Cultural Foundation has launched the inaugural 2026 Seongbuk Art Week, featuring seven special exhibitions and 22 local art institutions across Seongbuk-gu. The event includes a limited-time public opening of the Seongbuk-dong Villa and an art fair at Saseogosaeng showcasing 60 works by 21 artists.
Old houses, gardens, and alleys will be transformed into exhibition spaces where art meets the local landscape. Rather than viewing works only within museums, visitors will have the opportunity to stroll through various parts of the region to explore art and history together.
The Seongbuk Cultural Foundation is holding the first 2026 Seongbuk Art Week throughout Seongbuk-gu until November 1. Having opened on the 20th, the event is themed "Home: Connected Breath," illuminating the lives and creative activities of artists who stayed in Seongbuk, as well as the cultural heritage left in the area.
The event consists of seven special and planned exhibitions, space projects held at 11 historical and cultural sites, and exhibitions involving 22 local art institutions.
At the Seongbuk Museum of Art, "Seo Se-ok and Do Ho Suh: Caress" will explore the relationship between the two artists and the Hanok of Seongbuk-dong through their works. The Korea University Museum will host "Where Do We Come From and Where Are We Going?", an exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Byun Si-ji, while the Seongbuk Choi Man Lin Museum will present "Home: Connecting Two Sculptors," introducing the works of Choi Man-lin and Park Byeong-uk together.
Artworks can also be encountered at historical sites in the region. Contemporary art pieces reflecting the history and characteristics of each space will be installed at the Choi Sunu House, Simujang, Samcheonggak, and the Hanyang City Wall. Notably, the Seongbuk-dong Villa, which is usually difficult to visit, will be opened to the public for a limited time during the event.
In addition to the exhibitions, programs are available to experience the purchase of artworks and creative sites. An art fair featuring 60 works by 21 artists will be held at Saseogosaeng from the 22nd to the 25th, and an open residency to tour local creative spaces will take place on the 24th.
A shuttle bus connecting the major exhibition venues will operate until the 24th. It will pass through 11 stops in the Seongbuk-dong, Jeongneung, Jangwi, and Anam areas and can be used by purchasing a separate ticket.
Detailed information, including operating hours for each exhibition and how to participate, can be found on the official 2026 Seongbuk Art Week website.
Reporter at HANDMAKER (핸드메이커), a Korean magazine devoted to crafts and handmade culture. Covers exhibitions, design and the people who make things by hand.
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