Hi! I’m Kyung Jeon-Miranda, a Korean-American visual artist based in Brooklyn. My gouache and watercolor paintings draw from person history, cultural identity, and emotion terrain of motherhood. Drawing from personal experiences, my work reflects a deep commitment to storytelling and advocacy, blending whimsical imagery with thought-provoking narratives, often weaving in themes of vulnerability, resilience, and transformation.
Whether I’m painting in my studio, co-teaching superhero workshops with my husband and son, or sharing my story through advocacy work, I’m always thinking about how art can connect us. My journey has taken me from gallery walls to classrooms to community spaces, and I’m excited to keep building spaces where creativity, care, and cultural meet.
My art and my story about living with endometriosis is featured in the documentary film Below the Belt, which was produced by award-winning Endometriosis Advocate Shannon Cohn of Endo What?. I am a main figure in the film about endometriosis and the social justice issues surrounding the disease and also one of the subjects interviewed for the book The Doctor Will See You Now by Endometriosis Specialist Tamer Seckin, MD.
I got my first period in middle school, but didn’t start having endometriosis symptoms until I was in my 20s. I had no clue why I would have severe, sharp pains in my abdomen, no idea whether it was a digestive issue or gynecological. After I started logging my symptoms, I realized it was related to my period and set up an appointment with a gynecologist.
The doctor scheduled surgery to remove my endometriosis, but when he opened me up, he was completely overwhelmed with the amount of the disease covering my abdominal cavity. It was so invasive, he felt he couldn’t treat me, so he closed me up and prescribed continuous birth control pills to avoid a period.
My symptoms continued to get worse, and I started having even more digestive issues, post-nasal drip, and chronic fatigue. I tried everything from changing my diet, to acupuncture, to seeing a gastroenterologist – but nothing helped. I even went to Korea to try and get medical help.
The sharp pain in my abdomen worsened, so I went to a fertility specialist who confirmed I had a cyst on my ovary. He was willing to do surgery but was only comfortable removing the cyst and ablating some of the endometriosis. I moved forward with the surgery, but months later I was in agony.
Throughout these surgeries, I never had insurance, so at this point I was in both financial debt and severe pain.
To make matters worse, the pain no longer aligned with ovulation and menstruation but continued throughout my entire cycle. After seeing multiple doctors, I found Dr. Seckin and was overwhelmed by his compassion and assurance for quality care. I never thought I would be able to get help for my endometriosis, but through Dr. Seckin, I connected with a group of women who had undergone surgery with him. These women assured me it would be okay and even showed me their scars – I saw such beauty in being part of this caring community and it gave me some peace.
The surgery was extensive, and recovery was tough, but I felt better and stronger, and I was in such a better place. I learned how to rest when I was tired and take it easy when I was in pain. But as time went on, costly MRIs and ultrasounds confirmed that the endometriosis was growing back and likely causing my severe nerve pain.
At this time, I have opted not to undergo another surgery. The decision is not an easy one, but what I do know is that I will continue my advocacy work and to spread awareness about this difficult disease.
MomminWithEndo 