Respected illustrator and manhwa artist Kim Jung Gi, who died unpexpectedly earlier this week to the shock and dismay of art lovers worldwide, received an outpouring of love from fans at his New York Comic-Con booth.Kim's Artist Alley table at New York Comic Con sat empty until tributes began pouring in from fans and fellow artists. Con attendees paid their respects to the beloved artist by leaving flowers, signing the table skirt with well-wishes and posting illustrations in heartfelt homage. Visitors began posting pictures of the memorial on social media, leading to reposts by fans of the artist. One such person was Adam Hughes, an award-winning artist and NYT Bestseller. Hughes retweeted Travis B. Hill's (@travisbhill5) picture of Kim Jung Gi's Artist Alley table, adding his thoughts to the original tweet by saying, "Kim Jung Gi, RIP, was to attend NYCC this weekend. His empty booth is being filled with flowers and messages."
The acclaimed artist was preparing to fly to New York for Comic Con from Paris, France, when he began to experience severe chest pains. After his untimely passing, Kim's official social media page announced: "It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we inform you of the sudden passing of Kim Jung Gi. After finishing his last schedule in Europe, Jung Gi went to the airport to fly to New York, where he experienced chest pains and was taken to a nearby hospital for surgery, but sadly passed away." His collaborator, Hyun Jin Kim, added, "After having done so much for us, you can now put down your brushes. Thank you Jung Gi."
Kim Jung Gi Leaves A Lasting Legacy
Kim Jung Gi's death shook not only the world of art lovers but also that of publishers, including Marvel Comics. The comic behemoth paid its respects on Oct. 6, 2022, with a tweet featuring artwork by Kim and a message that read: "We are saddened to learn the world has lost artist and visionary Kim Jung Gi. His grand designs captured the hearts of fans in a way few could, and he will be remembered for his truly boundless and imaginative work. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time."
Kim was a Korean artist born in 1975 in Goyang-Si, in the province of Kyongki-Do. At 19, he attended Fine Arts School, majoring in "Art & Design" before studying at Dong-Eui university in Busan. He collaborated with numerous famous artists throughout his career, including world-renowned Japanese artist Katsuya Terada and well-known French comic writer Jean-David Morvan. In addition to working with fellow artists, multiple galleries and museums worldwide host his artwork from Paris, France, to Penang, Malaysia. Kim also managed a drawing school AniChanga in Seoul.
As indicated on his website bio, Kim loved traveling the world and meeting fans, so there is no doubt he was looking forward to meeting everyone at NYCC. If you wish to send a note or drawing to his family, they invite you to do so via email at 1975-2022@kimjunggi.net.
Source: Twitter