D.J. Kim was born in Seoul, Korea in 1979. His father, Dae Chun Kim, is a famous artist and fine art collector specializing in the early era of westernization. Kim adapted much of his father’s painting style.

Kim creates his original oil paintings by using a pallet knife instead of a paintbrush to add significant bold texture. He then fills the canvas with bright jewel tone colors—primarily blues, whites and reds—as his main color scheme. The texture and bold blue and white colors create an inviting, contemporary landscape or seascape setting for the viewer to get lost in. In addition to street and café scenes, he also likes to paint contemporary abstract works.

His paintings are inviting and make the viewer further investigate what the artist is trying to express. His personal favorite subjects are landscapes and his paintings have captured many fans around the world. Kim was first shown in the United States at the International Art Expo in New York in 2005. His artwork is displayed in many private collections in Asia and in select fine art galleries in the United States.