AGNES MA

Agnes Ma is a multidisciplinary artist whose prior background in biology is subtly interwoven in her chosen media of sculpture, metalwork, and jewelry. In her everyday life, she observes and collects forms in nature. Through this process, she is better able to appreciate and understand her environment.

Agnes is one of the artists in the Journey-scapes art exhibition at the Gene Siskel in conjunction with the FAAIM 21st Annual Asian American Showcase April 1st through 14th, 2016.

We sat down with Agnes at her studio in DeKalb to ask her a bit about her work and artistic journey! Check out her video interview below:

See more of Agnes Ma’s work on her website w ww.agnesma.com // Instagram @i_am_agnesma // Join us at Journey-scapes art exhibition opening Friday, April 1, 2016.

Artist Interview // LOSTBOY ILLUSTRATIONS

Behind LOSTBOY ILLUSTRATIONS is Fin Lee, a queer Korean American artist, illustrator, maker, and a proud Aquarius. They create abstract visceral formations, patterns, textiles, and affirmations with themes that surround their identity. Most recently, they completed a year long project posted on Instagram every day on 2015. View this work through the hashtag #365yokoonoillustratedtweets and @lostboyillustrations.

LOSTBOY ILLUSTRATIONS is one of the artists in the Journey-scapes art exhibition at the Gene Siskel in conjunction with the FAAIM 21st Annual Asian American Showcase April 1st through 14th, 2016. We asked them a few questions about their work and artistic journey!

What/Who inspires you?

LOSTBOY ILLUSTRATIONS: I'm continually inspired by the strong community of queer & POC folks. I think it is essential that more and more people speak out about their differences to create more visibility of often times marginalized communities. I am inspired by outspoken women who refuse to stay silent. I am inspired by people who continue to wake up every morning when they are paralyzed with mental illnesses. I am inspired by those who never give up and use their creativity as an outlet.

What are you working on right now?

LOSTBOY ILLUSTRATIONS: The pieces I am working on for the show is a direct translation and interpretation of my mother's immigration story to the states in 1974 from South Korea. I am honored and thrilled to be illustrating her own words and feel truly proud of her strength and courage to write her own narrative.

How would you describe your artistic journey?

LOSTBOY ILLUSTRATIONS: That's exactly what it is... a journey. I've always created art and illustrations but for about 3 years I stopped. I'm so glad I picked up my pen again. I have recently started to make more consistent work and even got the opportunity to draw on Lady Gaga's dancer's costumes at the Grammys this year. My work has elevated itself from beyond the paper and I'm excited to see how my visceral line work continues to change using different canvases (ie: set designs, costumes, murals, etc).

See more of their work on w ww.lostboyillustrations.com // Instagram @lostboyillustrations // Join us at Journey-scapes art exhibition opening Friday, April 1, 2016.

Artist Interview // JACE JUNGGYU KIM

Jace Junggyu Kim is a Canadian painter currently based in Vancouver, BC. His career started off as an animator but his enduring passion is for traditional painting. His painting on canvas arises from the meeting and combination of various artistic materials; oil, acrylic, ink, spray paint and others. He posts daily sketches on instagram at @jacethekim.

Jace is one of the artists in the Journey-scapes art exhibition at the Gene Siskel in conjunction with the FAAIM 21st Annual Asian American Showcase April 1st through 14th, 2016. We asked him a few questions about his work and artistic journey!

What/Who inspires you?

Jace Junggyu Kim: I get inspired by everything around me to everything inside of me. My paintings work as a bridge between the reality and the subconscious. I often get anxious to paint my raw emotions and like seeing them personified by my brush strokes.

Dali with Magnolias, images courtesy of the artist.

What are you working on right now?

Jace Junggyu Kim: I am currently working on a commission painting for my client. The work is called 'Midas' lips'. I have sold the original and the client requested me to paint the same so I am struggling to recall the particular emotions and the brush strokes. The expression is different every time and really hard to capture the same vibe with it.

Daily instagram sketches, images courtesy of the artist.

How would you describe your artistic journey?

Jace Junggyu Kim: I have a major in animation. Coming from a such commercial art field provided me a tool to express. The contrast between working for companies and painting for myself really liberates myself from being constrained and limited. As much as I ran all the way around to do what I can truly enjoy doing, I acknowledged what it means to be working as a painter/visual artist. The effort and sacrifices I had to make to be where I am, are the reason why I do what I do now. I am not at my final destination and will not be there anyways since the journey is spontaneously continuous.

I Am Sorry Mom, images courtesy of the artist.

See more of Jace Junggyu Kim’s work on www.behance.net/apologies // Instagram @jacethekim // Join us at Journey-scapes art exhibition opening Friday, April 1, 2016.

Artist Interview // PRISCILLA YU

Priscilla Yu is a multi-disciplinary artist and illustrator based in Vancouver, BC Canada. Her work is a combination of visually-learned geometry and perspective, intuitive colour decisions, and personal narratives.

Priscilla Yu is one of the artists in the Journey-scapes art exhibition at the Gene Siskel in conjunction with the FAAIM 21st Annual Asian American Showcase April 1st through 14th, 2016. We asked her a few questions about her work and artistic journey!

What/Who inspires you?

Priscilla Yu: I'm inspired by a lot. I'm inspired by nature; the geometry, the beauty, and the systems within it, and I'm inspired by other creative people. I'm inspired by all the artists, illustrators, designers, musicians, and actors around me who are also pursuing their craft.

Treasure Hunt, images courtesy of the artist.

What are you working on right now?

Priscilla Yu: For a long time, people were always telling me that my paintings would look good on clothing, or that I should do something involved with fashion. So right now, I am working on a personal project, creating a series of clothing inspired by a series of of paintings. Each piece of clothing will be inspired by an aspect from the world within the paintings. I'm still at the experimenting stage with producing these items. I've been experimenting with dye-sublimation printing on polyester. It's kind of fun making the kind of clothing that the beings in my paintings wear, for actual people.

Glass Castle and the Obelisk Storm, images courtesy of the artist.

How would you describe your artistic journey?

Priscilla Yu: My artistic journey has been simultaneously thrilling, satisfying, and bumpy. It's always been really exciting to see what can come out of my brain and onto paper or canvas. I love experiencing that magic of feeling creativity and getting lost in a piece. My art has also connected me to a lot of people whom I love. I also love the learning involved in each project that I do.

On the other hand, I also experience 'impostor syndrome' from time to time. This is where there's this sense of self-doubt, where I feel like, "I'm a fake artist. Do people know that? People are giving me actual money for my thoughts and creativity?" It's super funny, and I'm getting better at not letting that get too out of hand and make me anxious. Overall, my artist journey has been very enriching.

See more of Priscilla Yu’s work on her website www.priscillayu.ca/ // Instagram @brickgirl.yu // Tumblr at priscillayuart.tumblr.com // Join us at Journey-scapes art exhibition opening Friday, April 1, 2016.

Artist Interview // EILEEN TJAN

Eileen Tjan is an award-winning art director and multi-disciplinary graphic designer. Based in Chicago, her studio practice OTHER bridges international aesthetics to deliver progressive design and branding services.