Philsoo Heo (b. 1993) is a South Korean ceramic artist currently based in Halle and Essen, Germany.
Heo’s artistic practice explores how individuals perceive their lives, particularly in relation to interpersonal relationships and social tensions. Drawing profound inspiration from nature, he adopts an ecological perspective that transcends anthropocentric viewpoints. Firewood frequently appears as central metaphors in his practice—represented as wounded beings in his ceramic sculptures—to articulate sentiments of unrest, emotional void, and the fragility of human existence.
Rather than embracing the societal push for relentless positivity without direction, Heo advocates for a conscious process of introspection and emotional healing. He believes that acknowledging one’s wounds is the foundation for personal transformation and trust. His artworks aim to offer moments of quiet solace amidst the fatigue and alienation of contemporary life.
Heo earned his Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Art and Design in South Korea in 2018, and later completed a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics and Glass at the Institute for Artistic Ceramics and Glass (IKKG) at Koblenz University of Applied Sciences, Germany. Since earning his Master’s degree, Heo has continued his artistic practice through various ceramic residencies. From 2024 to 2026, he is advancing his research on his artworks as part of his Meisterschüler studies under Professor Martin Neubert at the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design in Halle, Germany.
His work has received multiple recognitions in Germany, including the Apolline Prize from the GRASSI Museum in Leipzig and Second Prize at the BKV Prize in Munich (2024). He was also awarded “Talents – Masters of the Future” (2023), the Second Prize at the Richard-Bampi Prize, and a Special Prize at the Frechener Ceramics Award (2022). In 2024, several of Heo’s works were acquired by the GRASSI Museum für Angewandte Kunst in Leipzig and the Meissen Porcelain Museum for their permanent collections. His works are also held in various private collections.
Visit Philsoo Heo’s website and Instagram page.
Featured work
Selected works, 2022-2024
My central theme is the way people perceive their lives. In relation to interpersonal relationships and conflicts in today’s society, I often seek inspiration from nature to find answers. I pursue an ecological approach that goes beyond a purely human-centered perspective, opening up diverse viewpoints.
In this context, trees serve as an easily understandable element that allows me to draw parallels. In my ceramic artworks, I depict wood filled with wounds to express feelings of unrest and emptiness. I firmly believe that a constant act arising from infinitely positive attitudes without aim or purpose can bring even more confusion and emptiness. Therefore, it is more important for me to recognize and heal one’s own weaknesses and wounds rather than to continue this senseless accumulation. It is a conscious act of healing that builds trust and influences the direction of life. My goal is for my works to serve as a small source of comfort in life.
When I engage with the destruction and exhaustion of life, I can explore the essence of my own being more deeply. I believe that in moments of deep fatigue, we recognize what we overlook in the familiarity of daily life. At the end of this exhaustion, we can enter a phase of meditation or insight. Unfortunately, I observe that many people in our society criticize and destroy themselves in a life full of hard, endless competition.
My artworks are the result of my efforts to find myself in a life filled with deep exhaustion, depression, and wounds. They illustrate the stories of my personal experiences through nature and attempt to reflect my inner and outer state. Through ceramics, I strive to harmonize the relationship between sculpture and painting. The process of working with clay feels like a form of meditation for me, and my works are characterized by the naturalness of the material as well as my feelings and experiences.
