This print shows a network of interlocking pink lines radiating from a central red point to form a circular pattern. The shapes resemble a vibrant, stylized flower or mandala against a white background. The branching lines get smaller and smaller as they reach the edge of the circle, and from slightly before then to the edge of the print the background is a bright, vibrant yellow.
Ruth Asawa, Tamarind Institute, Desert Plant, 1965, color lithograph on Rives Type IV paper, Gift of Dorothy J. and Benjamin B. Smith, 1983.18.177

Asian American Artists

The work of Asian American artists helps us tell a fuller story of America and its far-reaching connections.

Explore works by Isamu Noguchi, Hung Liu, Zarina Hashmi, Byron Kim, Baldwin Lee, Shahzia Sikander, and more. Listen to their processes, ideas, and stories in their own voices. 

Selected works

  • This print shows a network of interlocking pink lines radiating from a central red point to form a circular pattern. The shapes resemble a vibrant, stylized flower or mandala against a white background. The branching lines get smaller and smaller as they reach the edge of the circle, and from slightly before then to the edge of the print the background is a bright, vibrant yellow.
  • The sculpture is a large, circular ring with a jagged and uneven top edge. It is made of white and grey marble with grey veining. The sculpture is on a flat, neutral-toned floor, emphasizing its circular form. The height and scale of the sculpture make it a noticeable centerpiece in the space, with the top surface varying in height.
  • The image features overlapping and intersecting lines and shapes creating an abstract composition. In the center, there are concentric oval lines over an image resembling a staircase with a person. Surrounding this figure, abstract motifs resemble parts of a human figure, potentially an arm and hand. A circular pattern with floral-like elements is positioned at the lower right. The composition suggests a frozen moment, resembling a surreal dreamscape and a collage of familiar objects.
  • A rough-hewn block of basalt sits upright on a rectangular stone base on a pale pink stone floor against a stone wall. In this photograph, we are off the front left corner of the free-standing sculpture in a space filled with natural light. The tongue-shaped basalt is narrower from front to back and wider from side to side. It is about three times taller than it is wide at its widest. Some of the dark brown basalt running up the center of the block is smooth but most is pitted. Strips up either side have been carved to expose rough, copper-colored stone, some of which has flaked away. The tan stone base is speckled densely with gray, and the leaves of an indoor but mature tree bow into the top left corner of the photograph.
  • The image shows several elongated rectangular shapes arranged vertically, with some overlapping. The composition features rectangles in black and brown tones with textures resembling wood grain. The pattern resembles vertical planks or slats of a fence or tree bark, creating an interplay between structure and randomness, suggesting a forest of standing wooden posts.
  • The image shows a woman from the side, sitting and focused on an activity. She has a bob cut hairstyle with grey hair, is wearing glasses, and is dressed in a sleeveless top. Her arms are in motion, possibly inspecting a woven object. The background has a textured pattern with brushstroke elements and abstract shapes.
  • The image depicts an upper part of a person's body superimposed onto a large yellow leaf with a black background. The person is centrally positioned on the leaf, facing forward. The facial features are sharp with a slightly wide forehead and defined cheekbones. The person's hair is closely cropped or shaved, and they are wearing a collared shirt. There are no visible jewelry or objects held by the person due to the constraints of the superimposition.
  • The image shows a series of concentric, angular shapes forming a spiraling maze-like pattern with black and white lines. In the foreground, there is a silhouette resembling a figure with rabbit-like ears holding up two fingers.
  • The image displays bold geometric shapes in vibrant red against a dark backdrop. There are two main abstract forms: a large red rectangular shape with rounded corners surrounding a central black circle, and a similar red shape encircling a smaller central reddish circle below. The design features contrasting colors and familiar shapes like circles and oblongs.
  • 560 panels, each painted a unique, flat color, are hung in a grid to create an abstract work of art. The grid has ten horizontal rows of fifty-six panels. The surface of each panel is covered from edge to edge with a single color. The colors range from mahogany to peach, almond white to dark brown. Some panels are smoothly painted while brushwork is visible on others.
  • The image displays an abstract heart-like shape in the center filled with black and bright orange accents. The background has a textured appearance in muted, earthy tones. Above, there is a red strip with irregularly rounded, orange forms resembling fiery embers.
  • The image depicts a human figure shown from the back, primarily covering the torso and upper body. The person is kneeling with their back arched, one arm resting on a knee and the other reaching forward. The facial features are partially visible in profile, with hair styled in a short, neat fashion. The person is wearing a robe or garment with intricate patterns. They are not shown wearing any jewelry or holding objects. Surrounding the person is a patterned floor, and the background features stylized pillars with stars and a crescent moon depicted in the upper left quadrant.
  • The image depicts a framed piece of art showing a person from the shoulders up. The figure is sitting, with the lower body out of view. The individual has intense eyes, an arched eyebrow, a mustache, and a stern expression. The hair is styled simply with a shaved front and dark, pulled-back hair. The person wears a dark round-collared robe with wide sleeves, depicted with sweeping brush strokes for movement. Next to them is a red patent leather-like hand imprint. There is no visible jewelry. The background features light brown paper with vertical calligraphic script in bold black ink for texture. The artwork is framed in black, against a white wall.
  • The image shows the upper body of a person standing upright with their arms loosely crossed at the waist. The person has a closely shaved head and a serious expression, with clear skin and defined facial features. They are wearing an orange robe, which is draped over one shoulder in a traditional manner. Around their neck, there is a beaded necklace. In the background, there are blurred green foliage and tree trunks, indicating a natural outdoor setting.
  • The image shows an elevated view of a busy scene in a dockyard. A large ship, several industrial structures, transportation vehicles, and three airplanes flying in the sky are depicted. The painting features stylized brushstrokes with a color palette dominated by blues, greens, browns, white, and orange. Smokestacks, scaffolding, and smoke plumes are also visible in the scene.
  • In this abstract composition, bold and jagged lines form shapes resembling mountainous landscapes. The central dark form suggests a towering mountain, while blue and white patches hint at sky and snow. The colors create textures reminiscent of rocky terrains and ridges, with green accents suggesting vegetation. The fragmented shapes and lines might also evoke figures or silhouettes moving through the landscape, adding complexity to the composition.
  • The image displays swirling, overlapping circular and linear shapes flowing across the canvas, forming a sense of movement and depth. The abstract composition resembles tangled threads or a bird's nest pattern. The lines create a central dark area, with lighter hues surrounding it.
  • The image shows vertical and diagonal lines intersecting, forming an intricate network of shapes resembling a building facade. The abstract rendering suggests urban architecture, such as windowed skyscrapers or modern city frameworks. Dark areas contrast with lighter segments, resembling illuminated windows or reflections on a tall structure at night.
  • This image depicts the upper body of a young woman, focusing on her face and part of her shoulders. She is positioned with her shoulders turned slightly to one side and her gaze looking forward. The woman has a composed expression, with neatly arranged hair pulled back to highlight her high forehead and delicate facial features. She is wearing a traditional-style garment with a floral or botanical detail on the shoulder, in blue and pink tones against a dark fabric. The background features an intricate composition with elements like bamboo textures, abstract patterns, and nature-inspired motifs, including a dragonfly and a bird. The backdrop showcases a blend of earthy and pastel hues that frame the woman's portrait, creating a culturally evocative setting.
  • The image is of a black and white scene viewed from ground level. In the center is an architectural structure with a tower and a decorative facade featuring a sun-like emblem. The horizon is obstructed by buildings and trees, but the sky above has textured clouds. The color palette is only shades of gray, offering strong contrasts. There is a pond with ducks, vegetation, and an American flag, as well as distant rooflines and trees.
  • The image shows fragmented shapes and lines scattered across a canvas, creating an abstract composition. Some shapes resemble puzzle pieces with diverse edges, with hints of recognizable forms such as parts of mountains, landscapes, roofs, and foliage. The composition suggests a deconstructed panorama, with isolated elements like greenery, architecture, and sky visible.
  • Two cows stand side-by-side to our right with a path leading to a row of buildings in the distance to our left in this dreamlike, stylized landscape painting. The forms are simplified, angular, and blocky, and seem to be overlapping, though most of the shapes painted with blended strokes. To our right, a black cow stands beyond a brown cow, both facing our left in profile. The heads are triangular and come to exaggerated points under curving horns, and the ribs of the cow closer to us are painted with curving black lines down the body. Their legs also taper to exaggeratedly pointed, tiny hooves. A milk jug sits to our right, behind them. The row of five buildings to our left are created with blocks of white, golden yellow, brick red, and black. A sprig of leaves and a lacy white flower grow to our left on the row of oatmeal-brown rocks jutting up along the bottom edge of the composition. An abstracted shirt-like form floats to our left against the background of teal green that covers the bottom two-thirds of the painting. The area above the buildings is painted with a field of silvery charcoal gray. The artist signed and dated the painting with tiny letters under the brown cow: "Y. Kuniyoshi 23."
  • The image depicts the lower half of a woman's body sitting on a bench, holding a naked baby on her lap. The woman wears a sleeveless top, and the baby is lying face down with their arm hanging down. The woman's head is not visible, and in the background, there is a chain-link fence, a parked car, vegetation, and buildings.

Stories

In this black-and-white photograph, five children sit closely together on a couch, reading different comic books and magazines. The comic books obscure the faces of the five children, and they appear absorbed in their reading. A sixth child who appears to be a young boy sits on the ground in front of the couch next to a coffee table piled high with dirty dishes and more comic books. His face is partially visible; he has light skin and dark hair, and he looks over his shoulder to the right. The children wear a variety of clothing with different patterns, including long-sleeved shirts, dresses, belts, and long pants. The wall behind the couch is light gray, with the edge of a framed photo visible at the top.

Article:  12 Documentary Photographers Who Changed the Way We See the World

Photographers of the 1970s revolutionized the medium through innovations of both style and subject.

Article:  Centering Asian Artists in the American Story

Asian Americans are often left out of view of US history. But their lives—and their art—are an essential part of the nation’s story.

Video:  Conversations with Artists: Binh Danh

Binh Danh (American, b. 1977, Vietnam) uses alternative printing techniques to explore the relationship between history, memory, and the landscape.

Video:  How This Photographer Used Selfies To Explore Layers Of Identity

Video essayist Nerdwriter helps us explore the extraordinary work of photographer Tseng Kwong Chi, whose iconic East Meets West series blends self-portraiture, performance, and satire.

Article:  Poet Victoria Chang Responds to a Sculpture by Anne Truitt

The poet responds to a sculpture by Anne Truitt and asks the questions “Who gets to speak, who gets to brush.”

This print shows a network of interlocking pink lines radiating from a central red point to form a circular pattern. The shapes resemble a vibrant, stylized flower or mandala against a white background. The branching lines get smaller and smaller as they reach the edge of the circle, and from slightly before then to the edge of the print the background is a bright, vibrant yellow.

Article:  Ruth Asawa’s Little-Known Experiment with Printmaking

Memorialized in stamps for her wire sculptures, the artist’s experiments with printmaking have been largely forgotten.

The image shows the upper half of a person in the foreground of a nighttime scene. The person stands slightly turned to the side, looking upward and outward to their right. Their facial features are highlighted by the lighting, showing a focused expression, with short, dark hair styled neatly. The person is dressed in a uniform with a mandarin collar, buttoned up and featuring a high level of tailoring, and worn over a plain shirt. There is an identification badge pinned to their left chest pocket. The person is holding an object with one hand, though details of the object aren't clear. The background prominently features the brightly illuminated dome of the United States Capitol Building, and the contrasting dark sky accentuates the architectural details. The area surrounding the capitol appears well-lit, emphasizing the structure's iconic presence.

Article:  Visionary Photographer Tseng Kwong Chi’s Vintage “Selfies”

Discover the artist's “East Meets West” series from the 1970s and 1980s exploring American identity and exclusion.

Article:  Who Is I. M. Pei? 10 Things to Know

Learn about the architect behind our iconic East Building.