In Bloom

LEXICON artwork sneak peek #3!

Sheila Arora, Pick Me, acrylic on canvas.

The exhibition opens in June, but you can also see Sheila’s acrylic paintings at a pop-up solo show tonight in the Loop!

And since it’s gonna’ be May / Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month next week:

I loved Fresh off the Boat showing how the Huangs chose their American names on last night’s episode. My parents, immigrants from Hong Kong, also chose their own English names. There’s something so powerful about that—being young, coming from nothing, literally making a name for yourself. My dad, a kid living in Shek Kip Mei public housing estate, named himself after Alexander the Great. How badass is that?

Odyssey

LEXICON artwork sneak peek #2!

Zoe Beaudry, Deathless Gods, Remember Me II.

Here’s something that I needed to say regarding some movie news last week.

And as a follow-up to this post: My Centennial Project prize package—including Find Your Park gear and an annual pass to all U.S. national parks in 2016—arrived! (A couple months ago, I was selected as a First Prize Winner for the National Park Service and National Park Foundation’s Centennial Project, all thanks to you who voted for a drawing I made when I was 15. Heart eyes.)

There's totally a code under my thumb.

Happy spring, everyone!

Release the Kraken

As I said last week, a record number of artists applied to LEXICON. Thank you, again, for sharing so much art with me. Today, I am thrilled to announce the selected artists! Hailing from all over Chicago, the country, and the world, they include:

Adrienne Glover, Adrienne Powers, Agnieszka Ligendza, Aisha Yousaf, Alba Margarita, Alix Anne Shaw, Allen Vandever, Amanda Mudrovich, Andrew Ek, Angie Redmond, Annette Hur, Arturo Mazon, Brianna Baurichter, Céline Browning, Christine Nicklos, Cristy Corso, David del Bosque, Emilie Bouvet-Boisclair, Emily Calvo, George Lindmark, Jamie Gold, Jessica Smit, Judi Tussey, Julia Mellen, Karen Hirsch, Katsy Johnson, Kelli Anthony, Kristin Ingram, Laura Lein-Svencner, Lisa Goesling, Mairin Hartt, Michael Coakes, Olivia Shih, Peggy Shearn, Peyton Michelle Rack, Rachel Dennis, Rita Grendze, Russ Revock, Sandra Bridges, Scott Fincher, Shane Small, Sheila Arora, Stuart Hall, Su Yin Zhou, Zachary J. Williams, Zoe Beaudry, and you. Congratulations!

                                        

Now, let the LEXICON artwork sneak peeks begin! Here’s your first look at the show:

Arturo Mazon, Oct on My Head, mixed media.

Much more to come!

Windows and Mirrors

Thank you to all who applied to LEXICON! I’ve received applications from over 70(!) artists! That’s the most I’ve ever gotten for a show. (So know that if you aren’t selected, it’s nothing personal. I mean, it never is, but still. And if you are selected, it’s something to brag about.) I’m excited to go through all of these submissions! And get excited for the artist announcement—and the beginning of artwork sneak peeks—next week.

I don't always take selfies, but when I do,
I prefer to face a stainless steel and resin sculpture
at the VIP Private View of Art Basel Hong Kong.

In case you missed the previous post, I’m back from my annual Hong Kong trip that’s really an excuse for me to do cool stuff all over my parents’ birthplace and get fed and hang out with my dad’s side of the family and get fed for Art Basel, and you can view my photos all over social media.

Happy April!