Founder and President of the AHL Foundation, Sook Nyu Lee Kim, was awarded with a proclamation by New York State Senator for the 40th District Pete Harckham, in recognition of her and her organization’s hard work and dedication to the Korean contemporary art community. Mrs. Lee was recognized in particular for her contributions to expanding diversity within the contemporary art world through the AHL Foundation’s support of Korean artists active in the United States and to the overall development of Korean contemporary art.
Sook Nyu Lee Kim immigrated to New York in 1969 and established the first Korean art gallery in the United States, Hankook Gallery, in 1970, where she served as director. She then embarked upon a successful business career and continued to support the work and activities of Korean artists in the United States. After retiring in 2003, she and several figures in the Korean contemporary art community established the AHL Foundation. Her achievements include the Sejong Presidential Cultural Award from the Republic of Korea (2016), President’s Call to Service Award (2014), Woman of the Year – Exemplary Service to the Community awarded by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams (2011), and Successful Immigrant Women in America award by Mayor Ed Koch (1986) among many others.
“It is such an honor to receive this recognition for my contributions to the development of culture and art and artists in the Korean community,” Mrs. Lee remarked after receiving the proclamation. “We at the AHL Foundation will continue to support and do our best for Korean artists and the contemporary art community, no matter what.”
