Self-portrait 24 x 18 in. oil on stretched canvas Private collection |
Bahja (Bahja Boo Hyung Choy) American, 1970 - present Born and raised in Hawaii, Bahja is an artist of Korean ancestry who roams between Honolulu, New York City, and San Francisco. Mostly self-schooled in art, the artist took an interest in realism at an early age, working mainly with pencil and watercolor mediums. His subjects were derived primarily from the lush nature and marine life of Hawaii. In his early twenties, Bahja received a formal art education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in studio art with a graphic design emphasis. After graduation and growing weary of working in the client-driven design field, he decided to return to the realms of the expressive fine art world. It was the late Hawaii artist John Young that advised Bahja to "paint what you want to paint, and paint where you want to paint," giving him the encouragement to embark on an art career. Casting aside the conventional art instruction he received, the artist re-explored his first love - painting, concentrating on both its history and the formalities of its mediums. This exploration, coupled with his experiences in New York City and San Francisco, gave him the foundation of his self-schooling. Bahja currently paints very abstract representational works in oils and acrylics. The themes of his paintings deal mainly with people, nature, and Christianity. Bahja's artwork is enjoyed by an international audience and is also in the permanent collections of the State of Hawaii and the City of New York. Notably, Queen Silvia of Sweden, former French President Jacques Chirac, and many captains of industries appreciate his artwork. They include Time Warner Chairman Richards Parsons and GE Chairman Jeffrey Immelt. It was former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani himself who inducted Bahja's artwork into New York City property. |
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