About the Gallery

Mason Man Sung Kang was born and raised in the Republic of Korea. He earned a B.S. in Chemistry Education from Seoul National University in 1975 and went on to build a distinguished thirty‑five‑year career in the petroleum, oil & gas, and construction industries, ultimately retiring as CEO of an affiliated construction company within the group.

Although his professional life was long and accomplished, Mason’s deepest dream had always been to paint. As an amateur artist in Korea, he participated in six group exhibitions and held three solo shows. After retirement, he finally devoted himself fully to art, studying at the Academy of Art University Graduate School in San Francisco from 2014 to 2016, where he earned his MFA in Painting.

Mason is drawn to the harmony of light and shadow in nature, especially the luminous clarity of California’s sunlit landscapes. His plein‑air experience expanded further during a fine art Study Abroad program in Florence, Italy in 2015, where he immersed himself in the traditions of European landscape painting.

His work has received significant international recognition. Mason was named a Finalist in the Landscape Category of both the 13th and 14th International ARC Salon Competitions (2018 and 2019). He has earned numerous awards from respected competitions including the Gateway International, Sedona Art Prize, Light Space & Time Online Gallery, The Artist’s Magazine 34th Annual Art Competition, Patchings Competition UK, and Manhattan Arts International.

His painting On the Hill received the Best Landscape Award in the June/July 2016 Plein Air Salon Competition, was selected as the “Winner Emerging Artist” in the Artmuse Contest (2016) and was featured in the Online Gallery of Leisure Painter Magazine in August 2016. He has also been honored as a Featured Artist by Manhattan Arts International. Mason was previously represented by Bill Hester Fine Arts and Gallery 901 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In 2021, he relocated to North Las Vegas, establishing a new home base for his painting career. Through his work, Mason hopes to offer viewers a sense of warmth, happiness, and quiet contentment — a reflection of the beauty he finds in the world.