Meet the Photographer
Hi, my name is HYUNJU BLEMEL
Pronounced
Hyeon-joo
Bleh-muhl
I am a second-generation Korean American raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and I started taking photos at a young age as a creative hobby. Soon, I was carrying a camera with me at all times and capturing every possible moment I could, using my friends and family as subjects, or capturing the natural beauty of our enchanting desert landscapes.
I attended The University of New Mexico and graduated with a degree in Integrated Studies, with a focus in Marketing & Communications, and a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing. During my time there, I worked for several private, state, and university organizations doing graphic design, print design, social media marketing, and of course, photography!
After graduating, I was a full-time content creator for Dion’s Pizza. These days, I'm back at UNM for University Communication & Marketing doing brand management, event planning, photography, and design.
I love photography because I love meeting new people, getting to know them, and capturing their joy.
My work has been featured on billboards, in national ad campaigns, in Scribendi magazine, in Conceptions Southwest magazine, and been exhibited at various galleries at The University of New Mexico, the Albuquerque Museum, and more. Below you can find an extensive portfolio of all my professional work.
Thanks for stopping by!
I look forward to meeting and learning more about you.
AWARDS
2025
- Collegiate Advertising Awards
- Gold in Photography Series, School 20,000+ Students - College of Nursing Series
2024
- University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Awards Show (Competition Among Schools & Colleges in the U.S. & Canada)
- Excellence in Special Event Print Collateral, Graphic Design - Silent Lights 2023 (Matthew Saavedra & Hyunju Blemel)
- Gold in Campus Photography Series – UNM North Golf Course
- Silver in Student Life Photography Series – Silent Lights 2023
- Silver in Arts & Culture Photography Series - Cherry on Top Hot Air Balloon
- Excellence in Athletics Photography Series - Rio Grande Rivalry Football Game - Student Section
- Excellence in Science & Research Photography Series - Clayton Lake State Park
- Excellence & Judge's Choice in Student Life Photography Series - Elephant Butte Lake State Park - Hot Air Balloon Regatta
2023
- Hermes Creative Awards (International Competition)
- Hyunju Blemel & Benjamin Thorp: Platinum in Print Media, Photography, Event and Lifestyle Photography – The Lobo Life Photography Series
- Jon Sanchez, Josiah Garza, Hyunju Blemel: Honorable Mention in Print Media Design, Illustration/Graphic Design – Lobo Day 2022
- Honorable Mention in Print Media, Photography, Advertising – UNM Brand Photography Series
- University & College Designers Association (Competition Among Schools & Colleges in the U.S. & Canada)
- The eighteen judges evaluated 728 entries, awarding 146 awards—12 Gold Awards, 21 Silver Awards and 113 Awards of Excellence.
- Excellence in Student Life Photography Series – Silent Lights 2022
- Excellence in Student Life Photography Series – Balloon Fiesta
- Hyunju Blemel & Benjamin Thorp: Honorable Mention in Student Life Photography Series – Red Rally
- Honorable Mention in Student Life Photography Series – Student Health & Counseling
- Honorable Mention in Student Life Photography Series – UNM Branded Event
- Honorable Mention in Student Life Photography Series – Kamala Harris Visit to UNM
2022
- Albuquerque Business First, Inno Under 25, Innovation Award
- MarComm Awards (International Competition)
- Hyunju Blemel & Benjamin Thorp: Gold in Print Media Photography, Advertising, Red Rally Photo Series
2020
- Western Regional Honors Council Photography Award
- UNM Honors College Outstanding Senior Award
2019
- New Mexico State Parks Partnership of the Year (UNM's The Lobo Life project lead & point of contact)
- UNM Student Employee of the Year finalist (top 3)
- UNM Leadership and Involvement Award
2016
- Congresswoman Lujan-Grisham’s Congressional Art Competition Juror’s Choice
- City of Albuquerque Public Permanent Art Collection Purchase Award
- APS Metro Youth Art Exhibit, mixed media, Elements of Design, first place
- APS Metro Youth Art Exhibit, digital photography, Yo, second place
- APS Metro Youth Art Exhibit, digital special techniques, Hotel Lines, honorable mention
- APS Metro Youth Art Exhibit, digital special techniques, Railyard Fantasma, honorable mention
- APS Metro Youth Art Exhibit, digital special techniques, Rust, honorable mention
- Scholastic Art and Writing Regional Art Competition, digital art, Railyard Fantasma, digital art gold key award winner, American Visions & Voices Nominee best of show.
- Scholastic Art and Writing Regional Art Competition, digital art, Hotel Lines, digital art silver key award winner
- Scholastic Art and Writing Regional Art Competition, digital art, Surrealismo, digital art honorable mention
2015
- International Robotic Sailing Regatta One Meter First Place (Newfoundland, CAN). Designed and programmed an unmanned autonomous robotic sailboat
- Scholastic Art and Writing Regional Art Competition, photography, Texture Dyptich, photography gold key award winner
2014
- APS Metro Youth Art Exhibit, silver photography, Lumen Print, first place
Group exhibitions
2025
Black Men Flower Project in collaboration with Robert Washington-Vaughns and Sheldon Alexander Hamilton, Free Our Flowers, Santa Fe Arts & Culture Community Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2025
2022
Alumni Homecoming Exhibition, Modern Dirndl, The University of New Mexico, Spectra Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2022
2021
A Yellow Rose Project
Washington and Lee University, Staniar Gallery, Lexington, Virginia, October 4 - November 3, 2021
Boston University, The Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts, June 1 - September 17, 2021
University of Arkansas, sUgAR Gallery, Fayetteville, Arkansas
2020
A Yellow Rose Project
PhotoNOLA, THE FRONT Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana, Dec. 12-Jan. 3, 2021
Texas Christian University, The Mary Couts Burnett Library, Fort Worth, Texas Oct-Nov.
Old Dominion University, Gordon Art Galleries, Norfolk, Virginia, Oct. 14-Nov. 6
Eleanor Wilson Museum, Hollins University, Roanoke, Virginia, October 23
Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri, October 29
Colorado Photographic Arts Center, Denver, Colorado October 9-November 21
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, August 26-29
The University of New Mexico, Spectra Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico, August 18-Oct. 30
2019
These Systems Are Not Static: Land Arts of the American West, The University of New Mexico, John Sommers Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2019.
Dia De Los Muertos, The University of New Mexico, Masley Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2019.
2018
For Freedoms, The University of New Mexico Art Museum, Albuquerque, NM, 2018.
2017
Arts Unexpected, The University of New Mexico, John Sommers Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2017.
2015
Focus on Youth, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM, 2015.
SOLO exhibitions
2017-2026
Invisible Labor, Kitch Cleaners, Albuquerque, NM, 2017-2026.
2019
Pieces, The University of New Mexico, Spectra Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2019.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
2020: Dallas, TX
Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District 4 Conference
Social for Students by Students: Letting Students Build Their Own Online Presence (UNM's @TheLoboLife)
Note: The UNM Social Media Manager presented in person and I video conferenced from Albuquerque, NM
2019: Marseille, France
World Oceans Conference
Improved Fish Tagging Technology: Field Test Results and Analysis
2019: Bozeman, MT
Western Regional Honors Council Conference
Scribendi Regional Release
Marketing our Honors Program Using Adobe Products
Part I: What Makes an Engaging Honors Newsletter
Part II: Designing an Honors Newsletter Using Adobe InDesign
2018: Orange, CA
Scribendi Regional Release
2018: Boston, MA
National Collegiate Honors Council Conference
Idea Exchange: Scribendi
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Hyunju Blemel Photography is a US Government Small Business Administration (SBA) program certified Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business and 8(a) Minority-Owned Small Business.