Hanji Art by Irina Shin-Geller

Irina Shin-Geller is a Korean-Russian-American artist known for her textured hanji collages and non-figurative abstractions. Born in Uzbekistan and raised in Moscow, she earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Moscow State University and a Ph.D. in History from the Soviet Academy of Sciences. After immigrating to the United States in 1992, she studied graphic design at Parsons School of Design and web design at Pace University before focusing on her studio practice. With her husband Jeffery Geller, she co-owns and operates Red Springs Artspace in North Carolina.

“I work primarily with handmade Korean hanji paper, employing traditional techniques alongside experimental painting methods. Layers of hanji are wetted, manipulated, and fused to create rich, textured surfaces. Acrylics, inks, enamels, and occasional metallic accents are applied intuitively, allowing light to interact with the translucent and opaque qualities of the material. Chance and material response guide the process, resulting in organic abstractions that emphasize fluidity, depth, and luminous presence.”