A overhead light shines above a trombone player in a band uniform.
The Living Need Light, the Dead Need Music, 2014, Propeller Group, Gift of funds from Nivin MacMillan

Asian American and Pacific Islander Artists

Asian American and Pacific Islander Artists

Celebrate the exceptional historical and contemporary creative cultural contributions made by Asian American and Pacific Islander artists with videos, stories, and more. With one of the nation’s most comprehensive collections of the arts of Asia, Mia is a vibrant resource for the appreciation of Asian cultural heritage, both past and present.

Recently, the global spread of the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed a disproportionate impact on communities of color and an escalation of racism and xenophobia against Asians and Asian Americans. We condemn these discriminatory beliefs and behavior and reject actions of prejudice and intolerance against any community. We are committed to investing our resources to deepen our understanding and appreciation of our shared humanity across differences.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Artists

Celebrate the exceptional historical and contemporary creative cultural contributions made by Asian American and Pacific Islander artists with videos, stories, and more. With one of the nation’s most comprehensive collections of the arts of Asia, Mia is a vibrant resource for the appreciation of Asian cultural heritage, both past and present.

Recently, the global spread of the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed a disproportionate impact on communities of color and an escalation of racism and xenophobia against Asians and Asian Americans. We condemn these discriminatory beliefs and behavior and reject actions of prejudice and intolerance against any community. We are committed to investing our resources to deepen our understanding and appreciation of our shared humanity across differences.

Explore the Art

Explore

Explore artwork by Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander artists in Mia’s collection.

Explore the Art

Past Exhibitions

Teo Nguyen: Việt Nam Peace Project

July 30, 2022 – June 18, 2023

Teo Nguyen’s work invites contemplation and reflection on the Vietnamese people’s struggles toward peace and what the artist calls “the politics of worthiness.” In an act of reclamation that shines a light on Vietnam beyond the war, Nguyen’s photorealist paintings reference historic images by photojournalists documenting the war in Vietnam, but reimagine them without violence.

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Amano Kazumi: Prints from the Kimm-Grufferman Collection

May 29, 2021 – May 29, 2022

From black and white figural designs to colorful, abstract forms, the work of Japanese print artist Amano Kazumi shows a constant metamorphosis.

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Yee I-Lann: Picturing Power

April 23, 2022 – November 13, 2022

In this striking series of images, Yee I-Lann creates graphically distinctive photographic assemblages to address the legacies of Dutch colonialism in Indonesia and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. By appropriating historical photographs sourced from colonial archives in the Netherlands and arranging them with her own photography, the artist provides new grounds for interpreting imperialism in Southeast Asia.

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Program Videos

Watch videos about Asian American and Pacific Islander artists, including Tiffany Chung, Noriko Furunishi, Pao Her, Sieng Lee, Wing Young Huie, Chamindika Wanduragala, and Marcus Young

 

Self-Care through Art

Close Looking and Drawing Exercise

During these challenging and uncertain times, empathy and compassion are crucial as we care for others. And self-care is just as important. Art can be a powerful tool for helping us connect with and mediate our own emotions and feelings. Here you can engage in close looking and a drawing exercise inspired by a painting from Mia’s collection by Yayoi Kusama. Also, be inspired by optimistic words of hope from the artist herself about the Covid19 pandemic and resilience.

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Arts of Asia

Whether you’re teaching in a new virtual environment or from your classroom, we’ve got you covered with resources designed to support the integration of Asian art and voices into your curriculum.

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Virtual Care Package

Send this digital “Care Package” to someone in need of support, inspiration, healing, or creativity. Co-curated with members of the local Asian American Pacific Islander community, this virtual care package includes poetry, films, workshop, and more.

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This project was inspired by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center’s Care Package.

The Living Need Light, the Dead Need Music, 2014, Propeller Group, Gift of funds from Nivin MacMillan