In an era where technology and art increasingly intersect, June Redthread stands at the convergence point, weaving traditional Asian symbolism with cutting-edge AI to create work that transcends cultural and temporal boundaries. The self-described "artpreneur" and founder of 528 Lab has developed a distinctive practice that transforms physical red thread sculptures into evolving digital installations, challenging conventional notions of artistic creation and exhibition.
At the core of June's artistic practice is the ancient Asian belief in the invisible red thread of fate, a mythological connection that links those destined to meet across time and space. This concept serves as both metaphor and material for her work, which spans physical sculptures, virtual installations and AI-generated experiences.
“Using AI, I train my physical works to evolve into digital forms, reimagining them through virtual installations and the metaverse.”
This process, which she has coined “PromThreading” embodies her vision of art as a connector across dimensions–physical and digital, East and West, traditional and innovative.
June's recent project, “4 Seasons of Redthread Vision”, exemplifies her distinctive approach to merging physical art with AI. Since 2022, she has been training AI systems on her red thread sculptures to create evolving, site-specific virtual installations. The project culminated in 2024 with a three-minute visual poetry art film that offers “a vivid, surreal vision of the four seasons, connecting the invisible red thread with nature, humanity and technology.”
The project's international recognition reflects its innovative bridging of traditional artistic practices with emerging technologies. Presented at high-profile venues including NFT Paris, the Eiffel Stage, Frieze Seoul 2024 and the AI Action Summit Paris 2025, June’s work has garnered support from technology giants like Meta AI, Meta France and Microsoft France. Most notably, her AI art film was exhibited at the prestigious Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris, signalling institutional recognition of her boundary-pushing approach.
“It's a project that embodies the collaboration between human and machine through AI vision” she notes, positioning her work as a case study for the future of creative expression.
Redthread's artistic perspective is profoundly shaped by her transnational background, having grown up between South Korea and Los Angeles. This dual cultural identity has allowed her to navigate and integrate Eastern and Western artistic traditions.
This cultural duality informs the very way she positions herself as an artist and communicator. “In Korea, I was taught to be quiet but living in the U.S. empowered me to not only create but also to speak with my own voice and embrace leadership,” she explains, highlighting how her geographical movements have paralleled her personal and artistic growth.
By merging these cultural influences with cutting-edge technologies, June creates work that is simultaneously rooted in tradition and oriented toward the future, offering “fresh perspectives that reflect personal growth and cultural heritage.”
For many artists, new technologies represent tools to be mastered and controlled. For June, however, AI represents something more profound: a collaborator with its own creative agency.
Having previously worked as a motion graphics art director creating animations and 3D visuals, she notes that “working with AI is a completely different experience–it feels like collaborating with an advanced machine or team, helping bring my vision to life in the most unexpected ways.”
This collaborative approach to AI transforms the creative process from one of translation to one of conversation. “The process has shifted from merely translating my imagination to a collaboration with data sets and language, where the results are always unique, shaped by my input.”
This perspective on AI as a creative partner rather than a tool offers a nuanced alternative to both techno-utopianism and technophobia. It suggests a future where human creativity is enhanced rather than replaced by machine intelligence.
June would like to express gratitude to the women in Web3 who have helped shape her journey as an artist, often from behind the scenes. “Building genuine connections in the art world has been essential, and I truly believe they form naturally as we grow alongside our work.”
Whilst building her own initiative championing women–NFT Asian Women community in 2022– June first met Annelise Stern, who became a champion for her, supporting her to grow her network in the digital art space and leading to her first French collector.
Their collaboration began with an exhibition at the Iham Gallery in 2023, organised by Gxrlsrevolution and deepened at NFT Paris in 2024, where, with Arthemort (Brian Beccafico) and ArtGirls (Annelise Stern). June presented a solo show exploring the fusion of physical and AI-driven art. She recognises Annelise’s impact on her career and the many milestones that followed.
“The pandemic pushed her to "evolve my practice and explore digital formats.”
Like many artists, Redthread faced significant challenges during the global COVID-19 pandemic. With physical galleries limited to five visitors per day and her solo exhibition restricted to just three-weekend openings, sharing her large-scale installations and sculptures became nearly impossible.
Yet this limitation became a catalyst for innovation. The result was a hybrid exhibition that existed simultaneously in the metaverse and a physical gallery, a pioneering approach that expanded her audience far beyond what would have been possible in a traditional exhibition format.
This ultimately led to an expansion of her artistic vision, as “the scale of my installations evolved into massive public media art experiences”. The lessons learned during this period of constraint continue to inform her practice: “I learned that difficult times often lead to innovative solutions, driving transformation in unexpected ways.”
Founding “NFT Asian Women” in 2021, an initiative to connect and support underrepresented voices in the Web3 space, laid important groundwork for June’s understanding of digital community formation.
"In the past, I felt compelled to stay in constant touch with those I supported. Now, I realise that it's not about forcing connections but rather allowing them to grow authentically." This organic approach to relationship building extends from her broader artistic philosophy, which prioritises genuine connection over technological spectacle.
“I believe that building a community happens when I remain true to myself. When I am authentic, the engagement becomes more genuine,” she explains. This perspective counters the often metrics-driven approach to online community building, suggesting instead that meaningful connections emerge naturally when artists focus on creating work that genuinely reflects their vision and values.
As an Asian woman artist working in the digital realm, June is acutely aware of the need for greater inclusivity in the art-tech landscape. She advocates specifically for “more opportunities for Asian women artists, as well as other underrepresented women artists, especially those in Web3 and digital art, whose voices are often overlooked.”
To address this issue, June calls for greater diversity among curators and art world leaders who shape exhibition programming and institutional acquisitions. With “more diverse curators and leaders who can amplify these voices and highlight the full range of work being created,” artists from all backgrounds would be better positioned to “break free from limiting expectations and make meaningful contributions to the art world.”
Looking ahead, June's plans include further exploration of the physical-digital art hybrid through case studies and the creation of more red thread sculptures alongside digital pieces. She is also working to archive her past work including sculptures, installations, and early AI explorations, with an eye toward building her own original dataset for AI machine training.
Recent developments suggest that her innovative approach continues to gain institutional recognition. She has been selected as one of the first artists for Transient Labs, which evolved from the MakersPlace Artist Residency and has been invited to present a solo exhibition in the coming year.
For women entering the art-technology space today, June offers advice that reflects her own journey of cultural and creative integration, “Embracing art technology is a powerful advantage–it's a game-changer. Combine it with your unique perspective and emotions, which are among the most powerful tools we have.”
June Redthread's work offers a compelling vision of how art and technology might evolve together as collaborative forces creating new possibilities for human expression and connection.
June Redthread is an artpreneur and founder of 528 Lab. Her work explores the intersection of traditional Asian symbolism and cutting-edge technology, particularly through her concept of "PromThreading." Follow her on Instagram @june_redthread or contact her at info@junekim.work.