We support Korean-American artists living and working in and outside of the United States.

Our Mission

KAFA was founded in 1989 and is Los Angeles’ oldest Korean-American art non-profit organization. We support creative endeavors, encourage and nurture artistic accomplishments, and acknowledge the presence of outstanding Korean-American artists in the United States.

 In June 1989, a group of art supporters in the Los Angeles area founded the Korea Arts Foundation of America (“KAFA”), a non-profit organization, to promote creativity, research, and exhibitions in the arts. KAFA aims to encourage cooperation and free exchange among those who are interested in the arts, to provide educational facilities and services for persons and organizations engaged in all forms of artistic studies, and to coordinate, plan, organize and execute art projects.

KAFA selects one artist biennially for a $20,000 award. The purpose of the award is to facilitate creative endeavors, to enhance, encourage, and nurture artistic accomplishments, and to acknowledge the presence of outstanding Korean-American artists. Each awarded artist is required to participate in an exhibition of their work organized by KAFA in Los Angeles within one year of receiving the award. Historically, the exhibitions have been held at the Korean Cultural Center gallery in Mid-Wilshire.