Johsel Namkung

Namkung studied at The Tokyo Conservatory in Japan for voice. Namkung and his wife, Mineko, immigrated to the United States in 1947 after they both received scholarships to attend the University of Washington School of Music. Namkung earned a Masters in Music from University of Washington. He worked for Northwest Airlines but then left in 1956 to study printmaking and photography. In 1958 he attended one of Ansel Adams' week-long workshops. Namkung was also friends with many other Seattle artists including Mark Tobey, George Tsutakawa, Kenneth Callahan. Namkung worked at the University of Washington Medical Center as a medical photographer for 25 years but would continue his nature photography outside of work. In 1978, the Seattle Art Museum hosted a solo Namkung show. From September 1994 through January 1995, Namkung's photographs were on display alongside the work of other artists like Val Leigo, Paul Horiuchi, George Tsutakawa, at the Wing Luke Museum in the show, "They Painted From Their Hearts: Pioneer Asian American Artists." In 2006, the Seattle Asian Art Museum hosted another solo Namkung show. Namkung died on July 22, 2013. In 2025, the Cascadia Art Museum held a retrospective of Namkung's work in a show titled, Silent Songs: The Photography of Johsel Namkung.

• Name — Johsel Namkung • Born — 1919 • Birthplace — Gwangju, Korea, Empire of Japan • Died — 22 July 2013

Johsel Namkung is recorded as a citizen of Korea under Japanese rule. Recorded with the occupation photographer.