A group exhibition of the Asian American Women Artists Alliance
at A.I.R. Gallery, 511 W 25 Street, NYC, July 20 - August 7, 2004
Acrylic on canvas
30” x 50”, 2004
Yan Kong
Yan Kong is the director and founder of the Asian American
Women Artists Alliance. In 1998 she recognized the urgent need of a central
place where Asian women artists would have access to information and resources
in the arts, of creating opportunities for showcasing Asian women artists'
work, and of educating the general public about this community's unique
contributions to the arts in New York City. AAWAA was incorporated in
1998 and received its 501 C-3 non-profit status in 1999. The mission of
the Asian American Women Artists Alliance (AAWAA) is to support and promote
Asian American Women artists in the visual, literary and performing arts.
Working with volunteer artists members within the organization, Yan has
coordinated and put together, to this date, 20 visual arts exhibitions,
8 performances, 7 catalogs to document exhibitions, and a website for
AAWAA - all by a shoe string budget.
Born in China, Yan grew up in Taiwan and Hong Kong. At 18, she came to
the United States to attend college. Although her formal education centered
on science, Kong decided to pursue art upon obtaining Permanent Residency
in 1978. She studied drawing and painting at the Art Students League for
three years. Kong began as a figurative painter and studied art at museums.
Gradually over the years, she has found her own voice using colors in
a unique way to create imagery of landscapes and abstractions. Her recent
work explores a world of light through colors and abstract forms.
© 2004 AAWAA Asian American Women Artists Alliance
136 15th Street, Basement, Brooklyn NY 11215, Tel/Fax: 718-788 6170
www.aawaa.org, Email: