“Harmony” phonetically in Korean means “Grandmother.”

My Harmony was a widow and single mom of three with an illegal ten-day education where she learned the alphabet but not how to read. She was also a certified badass and self-made boss lady in post-war South Korea where women were treated as less than second class citizens. Harmony commanded respect from everyone around her but it came at a cost. She never let her guard down, not even in front of her closest friends or family...except me.

More than ten years after she passed away, I was sharing a particularly funny interaction between Harmony and I and looked around to see that jaws were on the floor. My family never knew her to let loose or be goofy. It was then that we realized that the woman we all revered so greatly had never been able to live as her true, authentic self.

Harmony Art Shop is a tribute to my Harmony and anyone who’s ever felt they had to hide or alter their identities to be accepted. We believe that everyone should have the freedom and privilege to just be so they can use the energy saved on trying to fit a mold or hide to instead chase their wildest dreams. It’s my hope that if Harmony was still with us today, she would be joining in on the day-to-day goofy ongoings of Harmony Art Shop.

We hope that everyone, everywhere, can live happily as their true and authentic self so we can all have a piece of the happiness pie.