“Jean Shin has long operated in the intersection of public art and civic engagement. Site-specific and often temporary, based in community and collective collaboration, and focused on sustainability, her work invites awareness and activism. Through a labor-intensive process, she transforms raw, ‘crowd-sourced’ material—often gathered through open calls for contributions—into immersive, large-scale sculptural installations.

Within the performative exchange of recycling everyday objects—everything from pill and soda bottles to sports trophies, sweaters, and computer equipment—diverse groups discover interconnecting narratives and dialogues, shared histories, and associations. Shin’s recent works have increasingly addressed environmental concerns and the impact of behavior we take for granted“

—Susan Canning, SCULPTURE MAGAZINE

“Known for her labor-intensive installations of everyday accumulations, Jean Shin broke new ground in ‘Everyday Monuments,’ a commission begun in 2007 at the invitation of Joanna Marsh, curator of contemporary art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC. Conceptually, the installation added elements of narrative and a national scope to Shin’s interest in community participation, while it met the challenges of working in miniature scale.”

— Sarah Tanguy, Sculpture Magazine

“Perhaps my earlier work was informed by radical activism. I wanted visibility and monumentality—representation and being counted in great numbers matters. Now I recognize that power can also exist in resistance, even in stillness. By letting go, I gain freedom. My work comes out of offering support, care, and making room for others.”

—Jean Shin, Correspondence Archive