Artist Interview: Nolawon
Gardens, Dreams, and New Beginnings: Inside Nolawon’s Art
Written by SOONNESS / February 9, 2026 / Profile photo: Artist Nolawon's Studio
Every so often, an artist arrives whose work feels like stepping into a waking dream - gentle and inviting, yet layered with the kind of emotional depth that only emerges when reality softly blurs into something more. Nolawon creates in this liminal space, where everyday moments and unconscious visions meet to form something quietly transformative.
For our spring collaboration, Repotting and Spring Prelude, Nolawon brought her unique sensitivity into two pieces that explore renewal, care, and the rhythms that shape our inner and outer worlds. In this interview, she reflects on her creative journey and the stories that continue to guide her growing body of work.
Early Life & Inspirations
Can you share a bit about where you grew up?
I grew up in Korea until eighth grade, then moved to the United States for boarding school, eventually where I studied and built my career in New York. My decision to study abroad began with an art summer program I attended in sixth grade - an experience so transformative that it opened my eyes to new ways of seeing, thinking, and expressing.
I was lucky enough to study abroad and high school became an immersive environment of art, music, theater, dance, and literature, forming the foundation of what I truly love. Moving between places and disciplines taught me to value subtle connections - those emotional and spatial relationships that aren’t always visible, but deeply felt. This sensitivity continues to influence how I approach my work today.
What are your earliest memories of drawing or making art?
My earliest memory is drawing with my mother. Growing up with parents who loved art and music, my brother and I were constantly surrounded by creative influence. From doodling Dragon Ball Z characters together as kids to drawing every day since, art has always been a constant in my life - something I didn’t choose to pursue so much as something I’ve never been able to live without.
How would you describe the relationship between your life and the themes that show up in your artwork?
There are two major sources of inspiration in my work: the quiet rhythms of daily life and the unconscious world of dreams. Everyday moments - mundane routines, music, novels, and long walks with my dog, Fern, where I find subtle beauty that naturally shapes my work. In contrast, dreams allow me to imagine beyond reality, offering access to my unconscious and an unknown realm that expands my creative thinking.
Artistic Process & Visual Language
Your pieces have a distinct softness and sense of life. How would you describe your artistic style in your own words?
I would describe it as gentle and intuitive, drawn to softness in both form and feeling. Creating often becomes a way for me to cope with hardship - an effort to find light and warmth within everyday and dreamlike moments, expressed through layers of colors, forms and a slow, truthful process.
Can you walk us through your creative process?
Inspiration arrives on its own terms. It might emerge from a concert at Carnegie Hall, a stranger’s passing hum, or a book. From there, I develop through research, idea concept sketches, transfers to canvas, and unfolds slowly through layering colors and stories on top.
What inspires the characters, moods, and atmospheres in your work?
They are part of my persona that lives within the story. Sometimes they tell it, sometimes they carry it, and sometimes they simply exist as part of it. Depending on the story, their shape and forms change with it.
Are there recurring motifs, objects, or emotions you find yourself returning to?
I often return to the form of love as a recurring motif - whether it appears through lovers, friends, family, or pets. What ultimately remains is kindness and care, the quiet forces that give us reason to live and something worth fighting for. Love becomes a healing presence, offering comfort, resilience, and a sense of living.
Do you have any personal rituals or habits that help you get into your creative flow?
I begin by tidying up the house, creating a clean and organized environment to work in, followed by a fresh drip coffee and music to set the tone.
Behind the Scenes of “Repotting” & “Spring Prelude”
When SOONNESS reached out about collaborating, what was your initial reaction? Had you imagined your work becoming puzzles before?
I had never collaborated on a puzzle project before, but I was immediately excited when SOONNESS reached out to me. I’m truly grateful that Soon initiated this collaboration - it opened up a new form of creative discovery and made the experience feel both meaningful and special.
What inspired your two puzzle artworks, Repotting and Spring Prelude?
With the shared theme of spring and new beginnings, I started from two things I deeply love: gardens and music. Repotting reflects the idea that plants need to be replanted in order to continue growing - a quiet metaphor for renewal, care, and giving ourselves space to evolve. Spring Prelude draws from music as a source of comfort and movement, imagining a gentle orchestra accompanying of the arrival of a new season. Together, the two works carry a hopeful wish - that everyone’s garden may flourish, guided by soft hymns and the rhythm of renewal.
Do you think differently when creating art that will become a puzzle?
I believe the joy of puzzles comes from completing a complex design through trial and discovery. With that in mind, I approached the artwork with richer colors and layered patterns, allowing the process of assembling it to feel both engaging and rewarding.
Art, Life & Growth
How does living in New York shape your creativity?
New York is filled with constant cultural energy. The city’s movement, layered communities, and sharp contrasts between intensity and quiet moments shape my mood and daily rhythm. Some days, this translates into explosive, bold colors; other days, a more mellow and softened palette. While the pace can be overwhelming, it often pushes me to create work that feels calm, human, and intimate in response to the surrounding energy.
What have you learned about yourself through your art over the years?
I’ve learned that art is a way for me to have an ongoing conversation with myself. It helps me acknowledge my inner voice and emotions, often functioning like a visual diary that captures who I was at the time each piece was made.
More about the Nolawon
What’s a dream project or artistic experiment you’d love to try someday?
A question that follows me every day is "life is too short, and there is so much to explore". I have a deep passion for animation and am currently hoping to create a short film, while also aspiring to work on murals and hold solo exhibitions when the time comes.
Do you have any hobbies or passions outside of art-making?
Concerts at Carnegie Hall, listening to music, reading at home, playing games, cooking, eating sweets, spending time with loved ones, and walking or playing with my dog, Fern - these everyday experiences ground and balance my creative life. They offer moments of rest, joy, and observation, allowing inspiration to surface naturally. By moving between making and living, these small rituals continually refresh my perspective and quietly shape the emotional tone of my work.
What’s something you’ve been curious to try, art-related or not, that you haven’t explored yet?
I’m eager to explore new skills and experiences, from leather making, enamel jewelry, and French embroidery to one day earning a motorcycle license.
Looking Ahead
As you look toward 2026 and beyond, what are you excited to explore artistically?
I feel very much in a phase of discovery. I’m excited to experiment across various mediums while continuing to refine my visual language and storytelling.
What do you hope puzzlers and anyone discovering your work for the first time take away from your art?
There are quiet parallels between puzzles and life. Each of us is searching for the missing pieces, exploring and learning where they belong. Sometimes a piece resists, sometimes it surprises - but with patience, it always finds its place. This collection celebrates the arrival of spring: a season to repot our gardens with rich soil, to begin again, and to let a soft spring orchestra accompany us forward, all the way to the end.
