Cover Joel Mesler at ‘Finding Paradise’ in South Korea (Photo: courtesy of Paradise Art Night and Joel Mesler)
Joel Mesler at ‘Finding Paradise’ in South Korea (Photo: courtesy of Paradise Art Night and Joel Mesler)
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From being questioned at art school to having a dedicated exhibition at one of South Korea’s most prominent art parties, Joel Mesler has come a long way as a contemporary artist.
When Joel Mesler graduated—with reservations—from the San Francisco Art Institute with a Master of Fine Arts in 1999, he wasn’t expecting to rub shoulders with Blackpink’s Lisa, DJ Peggy Gou or BTS members V and RM in 2025 at Paradise Art Night in Icheon, which is one of South Korea’s biggest art occasions. Heck, he wasn’t even sure if he would make it in art.
But this Los Angeles-born artist, who started as an art dealer and gallerist, doesn’t stop at forging an artist career he once only dreamt of. From hosting solo shows in the US and Asia, including Hong Kong in June 2024, to creating the iconic pool-party installation for Rockefeller Center in summer 2024 and launching his own collection with Casetify this year, Mesler has captivated audiences with both lifestyle product designs and paintings epitomised by bold text, vibrant iconography and a deceptively childlike style.
Earlier this month, he was commissioned by Seoul’s Paradise Group to create an exhibition for Paradise Art Night, which coincided with Kiaf and Frieze Seoul, two major art events in South Korea. Already, he is back in New York, his adopted home, where his first museum exhibition in the region is showing at Guild Hall.
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Above Joe Mesler at ‘Finding Paradise’ in Paradise City, South Korea (Image: Instagram/@joelmesler)
Joe Mesler at ‘Finding Paradise’ in Paradise City, South Korea (Image: Instagram/@joelmesler)
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Some may say that the 51-year-old is late to the game, having only begun his artist career at 40. But age seems irrelevant for Mesler: his art is as playful and fun as his personality. On the opening day of Paradise Art Night, he posted a video on Instagram of himself riding a child’s car around the gallery, giving a tour of his show by reading out the slogans in his works as though his paintings were pages in a picture book.
Mesler is proof that if you have a genuine interest in something, you will naturally express it in your own unique way.
Tatler recently caught up with him and talked about his art and journey in South Korea.
Above Joe Mesler unveiling ‘Finding Paradise’ in Paradise City, South Korea (Photo: courtesy of Paradise Art Night and Joel Mesler)
Joe Mesler unveiling ‘Finding Paradise’ in Paradise City, South Korea (Photo: courtesy of Paradise Art Night and Joel Mesler)
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Your exhibition at Paradise City in South Korea marks a significant moment for you in Asia. What was your initial impression of the space, and how did it influence the artworks you created for this show?
Paradise City [and its space] were the inspiration for the entirety of the exhibition. It [inspired] the content of my exhibition, where I tried to find paradise through my journey of [exploring the concepts of] earth, sky and air.
Tell us about the highlighted pieces of your exhibition Finding Paradise. Are there works that you feel are the most representative of your recent creative process or experience in South Korea?
The Paradise painting (2025) and the video directed by Matthew Chun that we filmed right before I left for South Korea encapsulate my exhibition and [are] where [my] art is headed. It tells the story of my journey through hope and healing. By sharing this story, [I hope] it can extend beyond myself to help and heal others as well.
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Above From left: Joel Mesler and Blackpink’s Lisa at Paradise Art Night in South Korea (Image: Instagram/@joelmesler)
From left: Joel Mesler and Blackpink’s Lisa at Paradise Art Night in South Korea (Image: Instagram/@joelmesler)
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What message do you hope visitors will take away from your exhibition at Paradise City?
That art can save us.
Your work is known for its vibrant colours and bold imagery. How did the energy of South Korea inspire you, and what new elements or themes have you incorporated into this exhibition?
The explosion of colours on the top floor in my sky room was inspired by [South] Korea and Seoul and [the desire to create a space] where the meditation on colours could be a place where people could sit and find their peace and serenity within my palette.
Your paintings often blend humour with deeper, more vulnerable themes. How do you find the balance between these two seemingly contradictory ideas in your work?
I never have to try. I just have to be honest and vulnerable, and it comes.
Above Joel Mesler at ‘Finding Paradise’ in South Korea (Photo: courtesy of Paradise Art Night and Joel Mesler)
Joel Mesler at ‘Finding Paradise’ in South Korea (Photo: courtesy of Paradise Art Night and Joel Mesler)
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You’ve been very open about your journey in the art world, from being a gallerist to a full-time artist. How has that unique career path shaped your artistic practice and perspective?
To always be grateful in the moment that I am at, here and now. I feel so lucky to be able to be an artist because that is my true calling. Every day when I wake up, I say, “Thank you, world. I get to be an artist today.”
What was the biggest challenge for you in transitioning from representing artists to becoming one yourself?
Re-introducing myself to people.
Above Joel Mesler at ‘Finding Paradise’ in South Korea (Photo: courtesy of Paradise Art Night and Joel Mesler)
Joel Mesler at ‘Finding Paradise’ in South Korea (Photo: courtesy of Paradise Art Night and Joel Mesler)
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Your titles often add another layer of meaning to your pieces. How do you approach titling your work, and do the titles come before or after the painting is complete?
The titles come after. Usually, the paintings “title themselves”—I try to get out of my own way.
What advice would you give to a young artist today who is navigating the complexities of the art market and trying to find their unique voice?
Don’t think so much, and don’t worry about the future. Capture the present as hard as you possibly can.
Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
