How a Korean Artist Turns Starbucks Cups into Art

Ever snapped a selfie with your Starbucks cup, then scrolled past yet another filtered photo of someone puckering up to that iconic green siren? Beyond the social media buzz, have you ever wondered if there’s more to that simple paper cup than meets the eye?

Yes—plenty. One South Korean artist, Soo Min Kim, has turned the humble Starbucks cup into a canvas for expressive, original artwork. He custom-paints over the logo, creating dozens of unique pieces featuring new facial expressions, scenes, and stories—all based on that familiar green siren.

The Starbucks Cup as a Blank Canvas

That instantly recognizable green siren—the Starbucks logo—has become a cultural icon. But for artist Soo Min Kim, it’s also the perfect foundation for reinvention. By covering the original graphics with white paint, he erases the standard elements, creating a neutral base. Onto that, he uses markers to draw custom faces, emotions, and situations. Sometimes he even cuts into the cup itself to enhance the composition.

How Soo Min Kim Creates His Cup Art

Kim’s process is meticulous but intuitive. He begins by painting over the logo and background areas with white paint to create a blank surface. Then, using marker pens, he sketches and fills in new expressions and scenarios directly onto the cup. Over time, he’s developed the skill to repaint the Starbucks logo from memory—no sketching needed. His work includes a range of expressions and compositions, each derived from that same familiar starting point.

Where Do All the Cups Come From?

You might be wondering: how does one artist accumulate enough Starbucks cups for an entire art series? The article doesn’t specify Kim’s exact sources, but it’s clear that he uses actual cups—likely collected or acquired over time—to serve as his medium. Each piece is a physical transformation of a real, used Starbucks cup, adding authenticity and a touch of everyday magic to his work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Soo Min Kim?

Soo Min Kim is a Korean artist known for transforming Starbucks paper cups into original artworks by painting over the green siren logo and creating unique expressions, emotions, and scenarios with marker pens.

What does Soo Min Kim do to the Starbucks cup?

He covers the original Starbucks logo and background with white paint to create a blank surface, then draws original illustrations and designs using marker pens. He sometimes modifies the cup physically, such as cutting parts of it, to improve the artwork.

Does Soo Min Kim still include the Starbucks logo in his art?

Yes, after painting over it with white, he often repaints the Starbucks siren logo from memory as part of the new design—without needing a sketch or reference.

How many Starbucks cups has Soo Min Kim used for his art?

The article doesn’t state an exact number, but it shows multiple unique pieces, indicating he has created several artworks using actual Starbucks cups.

Where does Soo Min Kim get the Starbucks cups for his art?

The source doesn’t specify, but he apparently uses real, physical Starbucks cups—possibly collected over time—as the base for his painted artworks.

Why did Soo Min Kim choose the Starbucks cup?

While not explicitly stated, the global recognition and consistent design of the Starbucks cup make it an ideal, familiar base for creative reinterpretation and personal expression.

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