Now on view, Unexpected Light: Works by Young-Il Ahn presents many works from the artist's best-known series, Water, which was inspired by a near-death incident on the Pacific Ocean in 1983, as well as his most recent works. The Water series marks a notable shift in Ahn's style from semi abstraction to complete abstraction, which has continued to define his style to this day. The exhibition marks the first-ever introduction of a Korean-American artist at LACMA, highlighting the ever-expanding diversity and realities within the ethnic Korean population in Los Angeles.

Learn more about the artist, read exhibition curator Virginia Moon's examination of the traditional and not-so-traditional influences on Ahn's work, peruse associate curator of contemporary art Christine Y. Kim's discussion on Southern California's mark on the artist's practice, and visit the museum to view these paintings in person.

Unexpected Light: Works by Young-Il Ahn is on view in the Hammer Building through October 1, 2017