Thomas Kong (1950-2023) was an artist and convenience store owner born in Korea and based in Chicago, USA.
Kong began making small collage artworks in his sixties to decorate the interior of Kim's Corner Food, a small convenience store he ran in a suburb of Chicago. The collage works, which he made using everyday items such as empty candy and cigarette boxes, wrapping paper, newspaper and magazine clippings, plastic bags, and discarded cardboard boxes, soon filled the store, turning the store itself into a work of art and transforming him into an artist.
This exhibition will display a portion of his vast body of work, one-of-a-kind art books, and archival materials from "KIM’S CORNER FOOD," which regrettably closed its doors. Kong continued to work at his store until just before his death in May this year. From these works he created in his late years at the cash register counter, visitors will be surrounded by the catchphrase "Be Happy” Kong enjoyed to use and receive a pure and positive message from the works.
In cooperation with 062