SPONG 

Studio SPONG is a brand specializing in studio furniture, sculpture, and art objects, run by Keun Ho Peter Park.

The name “SPONG” is derived from “Spawn,” the main character of the American comic book series <Spawn>, and was altered to “SPONG” for easier pronunciation. In the comic, Spawn is portrayed as a lonely leader of hell with immense superpowers. Unlike the righteous heroes typically found in superhero comics, he is a compelling figure because of his mysterious, dark side. In particular, the armor and cape he wears can freely transform into ever-changing forms and expand infinitely in size. This aligns with Park’s work, which features organic forms that transcend the image of ordinary furniture, free-flowing curves, and unique techniques that consider sculptural expandability.

* HoBaan is a sub-brand of Studio SPONG launched in February 2022. “Ho” refers to the last syllable of the artist’s name, “Keun Ho,” while also carrying various meanings in Korean, such as “good,” “vast and expansive,” “large,” and sometimes “lake.” “Baan” is a term in Korean craft history for a tray or a large, round bowl. In this context, HoBaan carries a dual meaning: it is a “large, wide bowl containing ripples,” featuring a texture resembling the gentle waves of a lake, and it is a bowl that embodies Park’s sculptural techniques.

Keun Ho Peter Park

Keun Ho Peter Park(b. 1984) is a furniture designer and maker as well as a sculptor who primarily works with wood. He focuses on the similarities between wood and the human body as living organisms, anthropomorphizing them to create sculptural forms with functional elements—such as furniture, musical instruments, and vessels—as well as abstract sculptures that emphasize aesthetic experiences. The key characteristics of his work include free-flowing curves created by organic forms, and joinery techniques that allow for infinite expansion through lines and surfaces. It also includes colors, textures, and patterns that reflect the wood's unique hues and grain.

Park was born in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up in South Korea. He holds a BFA in painting from South Korea’s Kookmin University and an MFA in Woodworking and Furniture Design from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

Park is the recipient of the Smithsonian Craft Show’s ‘First-time Artist Award’ (2022), the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show’s ‘Best in Design Award’ (2019), ‘Wharton Esherick Award: Excellence in Wood’ (2015), the Philadelphia Invitational Furniture Show’s ‘Emerging Artist Award Winner’ (2015), and Windgate resident artist at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

He has also taught workshops on free-form woodcarving and musical instrument-making at various art and craft institutions, including Haystack, Penland, Arrowmont, and Peters Valley.

Park currently lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and presents his works in the US and South Korea. He taught wood & furniture at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia(2016-2023), and he has been teaching fine woodworking at Bucks County Community College since 2023.

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