Renowned for his architectural fabric sculptures exploring memory and identity, Do Ho Suh is recognised by Kingston University for his contribution to contemporary art.
Internationally renowned Korean artist Do Ho Suh has received an honorary Doctor of Art and Design at a ceremony held at the Stanley Picker Gallery, part of Kingston School of Art.
The award was presented to the London-based artist—whose work is currently featured in a major exhibition at Tate Modern—in recognition of his contribution to the arts and his innovative sculptural practice.
Speaking at the ceremony, Suh said he was honoured to receive the degree. “My art practice exists within quite a specialised world, so being acknowledged by an institution outside of galleries and museums is something I never really considered. It’s a tremendous privilege to receive this award from Kingston University,” he said.
Suh, who studied at Seoul National University, Rhode Island School of Design and Yale University, reflected on the value of creative education. “My father always said that art is not something you can actually teach, it’s more about being part of a community – you’re surrounded by very creative and talented people, and it feels like a little village,” he said.
“The benefits I got from all the different schools was being part of that community. The friendships you make continue after graduation and become a great supporting structure when you’re starting out as an artist. School also helps you become strong and confident about your work – it gives you resilience. When you’ve been challenged during group critiques, you learn how to put your work out there and defend it.”
Suh is widely known for his sculptural installations that examine ideas of home, displacement and cultural identity. Among his most recognised pieces are full-scale fabric recreations of homes he has lived in, including his childhood house in Seoul and apartments in New York. These structures are made from translucent materials that allow visitors to walk through and experience them first-hand.
His work has appeared in major international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale, and is held in collections such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tate Modern in London, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Suh’s art often draws from personal memory to explore broader themes related to migration and belonging.
When asked what advice he would offer to graduating students, Suh spoke candidly about the early stages of his career. “When things were really difficult, I didn’t doubt what I was doing. I could have easily gone back to Korea or changed my career, but I went the other way and just stuck with it. I didn’t overthink things too much – sometimes that’s what gets you through the tough periods,” he said.
Kingston University Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Laville said Suh’s collaborative and interdisciplinary approach reflects the ethos of the School of Art. “Do Ho Suh’s work is fascinatingly interdisciplinary, his recent exhibition includes sculpture, installation, video, fabric, textiles, painting and rubbings – he’s interested in many different techniques,” she said. “That approach of thinking about using different materials to interpret memory felt absolutely aligned with Kingston School of Art, where our students work across disciplines and learn from each other.”
“His work resonates so deeply because it’s about the idea of home, something that speaks very much to our students, many of whom are international and have brought pieces of home with them. It really speaks to our identity and what we carry with us throughout our lives.”
©2025 Kingston University
Art Plugged is a contemporary platform inspired by a relationship with the broader arts communities. We provide our audience with curated insight into the world of art, from exhibitions to artist interviews and more.
