Wonju Art Fair to open September with celebration of everyday art

The third Wonju Art Fair (WAF), an art festival held in Wonju — Gangwon Province's most populous city — will run Sept. 1–6 at the Chiaksan Arts Center exhibition hall.

The festival was organized to energize the local art scene and broaden cultural access for residents and visitors from across the country. Built around the theme of art meeting everyday life, the works on display are chosen for their accessibility and emotional resonance.

Works for the third edition were selected through a nationwide open call.

Seventeen artists from across South Korea will take part, presenting a diverse range of paintings, sculptures and other works, each reflecting the artist's distinct sensibility.

The fair is designed to go beyond passive gallery viewing, giving residents a practical marketplace where they can enjoy and purchase art for their daily lives.

The event also features a range of collaborative programs and activities aimed at fostering community ties and cultural development.

Through partnerships with local businesses, including Salim Nongsan, an agricultural corporation, the fair will showcase collaborative works incorporating Wonju regional products.

Park Hye-soon, head of the city's culture and arts division, said the Wonju Art Fair is "a precious occasion that supports the creative work of local artists and drives vitality in the art market," adding that she hopes "Wonju residents and art lovers will join us at the threshold of early autumn to appreciate outstanding works and find a piece to call their own."