Asian Art Museum Ha Chong Hyun Exhibition Collection
JIWON CHOI brings a little Seoul to San Francisco.
The Korean jewelry brand has created an exclusive collection for the Asian Art Museum’s Cha May Ching Museum Boutique, accompanying Ha Chong-Hyun: Retrospective. Every piece was designed and handmade in Seoul.
For designer Jiwon Choi, the collection brings together inspiration from Ha Chong-Hyun’s work and details of the city she calls home: the Han River, winding streets, and familiar Korean symbols. The idea was to give museum visitors a small piece of Korea to take home and enjoy wearing long after their visit.
A piece of Seoul
The collection began with everyday references, from old Korean coins to freshly painted walls. Some are easy to recognize; others become clearer through the story behind each piece.
The Wet Paint Earrings take their cue from a city that always seems to be building, repainting, and changing. Choi used those everyday surfaces as the starting point for a pair of sterling silver earrings.
The Han River Necklace draws on the river and its nighttime fountains, while the Seoul Knot Earrings were inspired by the smaller streets and pathways that connect the city. Both carry details that may feel familiar to anyone who has spent time in Seoul.
For the Five Blessings Necklace and Bracelet, Choi turned traditional wishes for a good life into graphic symbols, using the shape of an old Korean coin. They were designed with the thought of giving someone something meaningful: a piece of jewelry that carries a wish for them.
The Rose of Sharon Pendant Necklace brings together three mugunghwa blossoms, Korea’s national flower, in oxidized sterling silver. The Peacemaker Brooch carries a quieter message about peace of mind and peace in relationships.
Made in Seoul, now in San Francisco
Choi worked with local artisans to make the collection in Seoul. From the first design ideas to the finished pieces, the project grew around a simple wish to share something of contemporary Korea through jewelry.
The collection is presented at the museum boutique during Ha Chong-Hyun: Retrospective, the artist’s first museum exhibition in North America. Tracing more than 60 years of his work, the exhibition runs from September 25, 2026, to January 25, 2027.
Visitors can find JIWON CHOI at the Cha May Ching Museum Boutique, inside the Asian Art Museum at 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco. The boutique can advise on current availability of the exclusive pieces.
More of the brand’s handmade jewelry from Seoul and Special Projects can be found on the JIWON CHOI website.
