Holly Wong | Feminist Woman Artist

In this excerpt from my recent artist talk, I’m discussing some of the inspiration behind my installation “She.” “She” is an immersive installation made of colored pencil and drafting film, suspended from the ceiling with monofilament wire. I created it during the early days of the COVID pandemic lockdown, and in addition to looking at marine life, this work explores pre-Christian spirituality. The intense patterning of “She” reflects a celebration of life and of the resistance to limitations and norms. It is also a prayer for revolt against the limiting notions of beauty and body size. If you want to learn more about the work that was on view in my recent solo exhibition “Guardian of the Spirits,” head to the link in my bio where you’ll find a link to my full artist talk. #hollywongart #deconstructed #installationart #womenartist #sanfranciscoartist #californiaartist #contemporaryart #sculpture #feministartist #womensculptors #quiltlanguage #quilt #fiberart #softsculpture #artisttalk #virtualartisttalk #slatecontemporarygallery #slateart #csulscarts #coloradostateuniversity #fortcollins #gorams

Join me for a virtual talk on my solo exhibit "Guardian of the Spirits" at @csulscarts Colorado State University Fort Collins up through May 26th! My virtual talk is happening this Thursday, May 4th at 6pm PDT/9pm EDT. Register for the zoom link by clicking in my bio! The video here is just a portion of what I will be sharing along with a panel interview with the students of CSU Fort Collins and @slate_art Don't miss it! Video by Wes Magyar #hollywongart #deconstructed #installationart #womenartist #sanfranciscoartist #californiaartist #contemporaryart #sculpture #womensculptors #quiltlanguage #quilt #fiberart #softsculpture #csufortcollins #lorystudentcenter #curfmangallery #gorams

I am so happy to be participating in SLATE Contemporary’s @slate_art new group exhibition “Heat Wave!” Turn up the temperature this First Friday. The gallery will be open late, until 8pm, along with the neighboring galleries on 25th street in Oakland. Bring your friends and family for an evening of art! Featured artwork: My Icarus 4, 2021, Gouache and graphite on paper with candle smoke and hand cut drafting film, 24 x 19, framed in white wood. Swipe to see some beautiful installation views of the show by some of the artists listed below. PARTICIPATING ARTISTS Eric Bohr @ematabor Maria Burtis @mariaburtis Carol Inez Charney @carolinezcharney Patrick DeAngelis @patrick_deangelis Jimi Evins @mindsplash Suzanne Frazier @suzfrazier Holly Wong @hollywongart Kate Zimmer @katezimmerart GALLERY HOURS First Friday, July 5, 12–8pm Saturday, July 6, 12–5pm Other gallery days by appointment SLATE Contemporary Gallery 473 25th Street, Oakland #hollywong #slatecontemporarygallery #slateart #contemporaryart #artlover #originalart #workplacedesign #summercollection #heatwave #smallworks #worksonpaper #smokepainting #oaklandgalleries

Here is a sneak preview of one of the collaged paintings in my “Amulet” series which will be on view at Bridgette Mayer Gallery @bmayergallery as part of my solo show opening in November. “Amulet 2” is featured here, made of oil paint, ink, and graphite on paper and Yupo mounted on shaped aluminum dibond panel. It measures 37”x37”. These pieces always start out with an exploration of crime scene and medical photography, centering around wounds and then the organic processes as scars grow over and there is healing and transformation. Always, I am focused on the cure and how I can manifest a better reality than where I have been. The organic, almost botanical quality of this work reminds me that nature remains a central element to how I define resilience. Photo credit: John Janca #hollywongart #sanfranciscoartist #californiaartist #contemporaryart #contemporarypainting #collage #drawing #worksonpanel #womenartist #studiolife #BridgetteMayerGallery #Phillygalleries #Philadelophiaartscene

I am thrilled to be participating in “Write me letters” you write to me”, curated by Nicole Kaack @kaackattack and featuring work by nineteen @airgallery National Artist Members. Drawing its title from French playwright Hélène Cixous’s meditation on longing, the exhibition uses the epistolary form as a motif for exploring how artists construct different frameworks for transmission, being, and exchange.⁠ The exhibition will be on view starting Friday, June 28, with an opening reception from 5–7pm!⁠ Check out the press release by clicking on the link in my bio. 💛⁠ Images: ⁠ Holly Wong, @hollywongart “Shadow Body 5”, 2023, Polyester tulle thread and map pins, 60 x 48 x 4 inches Cozette Russell, @cozette.russell “Untitled (summer studio/winter studio) (detail),” 2024, Framed archival print, bricks, and twine, 47 x 34 x 6 inches. Edition of 2 + 2 AP.⁠ #installation #installationart #artist #art #contemporaryarts #hollywongart #shadowbody #softsculpture #womenartists #feministart #airgallery #brooklyngalleries #fiberart #nicolekaack #newyorkgalleries #artistcooperativegallery #cozetterussell

Sharing a wonderful tip for artists from @caseycan.help who supports me on social media, newsletters, proposals and so much more! A real partner for any studio practice! She helps me focus on the studio which is where I belong! 😊 #Repost @caseycan.help with @use.repost ・・・ Want to get the most out of your newsletters? Here’s 3 ways to amp up the impact of your emails⬇️⬇️⬇️ 1️⃣ Start by letting your social media audience know an email is coming. Make it easy for them to subscribe if they haven’t already and offer them a little bonus like a discount code or an exclusive preview of new work for doing so. 2️⃣ After you send your newsletter, pick some contacts who aren’t on your list but who you want to connect with and use the newsletter as an excuse to reach out to them directly. Forward the newsletter to them with a personal note outlining why you think they (specificily) would be interested in the projects featured in the newsletter. This might read something like this: “Hey Jane - I saw that you recently participated in a panel about female figure painters. I recently installed an exhibition near you with some of my recent figurative work, and thought it might interest you. All the details are in my newsletter below. Hope you can check it out! PS - here’s a link to subscribe to my list if you’d like to receive these updates in the future.” 3️⃣ Find a way to archive your newsletters on your website. @mailchimp makes it easy: in your email, find the link that says “View this email in your browser.” Mailchimp automatically includes i link at the top to a list of “Past Issues.” Copy that link and include it on your website (typically somewhere near your mailing list sign up form) so that your newsletters live on and folks who visit your site can easily see all of your exciting updates. Save this post to get the most out of your next newsletter! P.S. Slide 3 includes a detail from @hollywongart ’s email header from her most recent newsletter. If you haven’t signed up for her mailing list yet, I recommend that you do! #artsadmin #artsadministration #artistsupport #artnewsletter #artpromotion #artpromo

I wanted to share a view of my studio life! I am working here at my drawing table on the acrylic sculpture, drawing fluid patterning on each of the 20 pieces with lightfast colored pencils. I had originally thought of painting them, but something about the luminous quality of the colored pencil on translucent plastic just really appeals to me. Also, the meditative quality of building up color line by line, drawing on both sides of the surface to build density. It’s interesting to draw on a shaped object, trying to use a flat table….. and I ended putting half of these on my lap in order to draw more comfortably!! This sculpture will debut at @bmayergallery on November 1st as part of my solo exhibition “Talisman.” Stay tuned! #hollywongart #installationart #womenartist #worksinprogress #studiolife #sanfranciscoartist #californiaartist #contemporaryart #sculpture #womensculptors #bridgettemayergallery #drawing #drawinginstallation

It’s the final few days of the Spring Collection group show at @slate_art SLATE Contemporary Gallery. It closes on June 29th and gallery hours are by appointment by emailing info@slateart.net. Featured here is “Keeper of the Secrets 4,” a work that was the first I created in my collaged painting on shaped aluminum dibond series. I have also included my Aurora series works on paper which are intimate in size and framed in white wood, part of my ongoing drawing work with candle smoke. I hope you can stop in to see the show! There are several wonderful artists that I am showing alongside with! For pricing and additional details, click on the link in my Bio. #hollywong #slatecontemporarygallery #slateart #contemporaryart #artlover #originalart #workplacedesign #springcollection #smallworks #worksonpaper #collage #oaklandgalleries

Here I am in the studio finalizing “Shadow Body 5” before I pack her off for the group exhibition “Write me letters” you write to me at @airgallery curated by the wonderful Nicole Kaack @kaackattack I really look forward to convening with other artists once a year for this national members exhibition which opens in Brooklyn on June 28th. “Shadow Body 5” has never been exhibited before and it’s so exciting to share it with you. This series involved sewing together hundreds of pieces of tulle into a variegated fabric that becomes a layered and wrapped surface as a metaphor for the aging body and passage of time. You can check out the curator’s beautifully written press release by clicking the link in my bio. #installation #installationart #artist #art #contemporaryarts #hollywongart #shadowbody #softsculpture #womenartists #feministart #airgallery #brooklyngalleries #fiberart #nicolekaack #newyorkgalleries #artistcooperativegallery #studiolife

These are three drawings in my “Aurora” series currently on view as part of the Spring/Summer Collection show at @slate_art . These works are made of graphite, candle smoke, hand cut drafting film, and gouache on hot press watercolor paper. I enjoyed working on this intimate scale and creating worlds within worlds. Each drawing measures 9”x10” within a 15” x 17” float frame. The show is up through June 29th! Gallery Hours: Saturdays 12-5pm Contact info@slateart.net to book a viewing appointment on weekdays. Link in bio to view the exhibition online. #springcollection #slateart #slatecontemporarygallery #contemporaryart #contemporarydrawing #worksonpaper #artconsultant #bayareaartconsultant #oaklandgallery #californiaartist #hollywongart #smallworks #smokedrawings #womenartists #patternanddecoration

The coloring begins! I have been working with @engineered_artworks over the past several months to laser cut this frosted acrylic sculpture and heat mold it! Now, all of these fanciful shapes are in my studio and the coloring begins! I am layering colored pencil with graphite on both sides to give the work a luminous feel when the light hits it. I am using lightfast colored pencils from @carandache so that the work can be durable. The color is about the affirmation of life and my refusal to give in to despair. There are about 20 pieces in total and it will be installed at @bmayergallery in November! Can’t wait to share this with you. #hollywongart #installationart #womenartist #worksinprogress #studiolife #sanfranciscoartist #californiaartist #contemporaryart #sculpture #womensculptors #engineeredartworks #artfabricators #makerscommunity #eastbayfabricators #eastbaystudio #bridgettemayergallery

Me and my husband, fellow artist @alwongart recently collaborated on a collaged work on panel created especially for the Spring invitational. This benefits both @500cappstreet and @berkeleyartcenter , two wonderful artist-centered organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area very worthy of support! You can purchase this work online (or check out many of the other fabulous pieces available!) by visiting the link below or clicking on the link in my bio: /products/al-and-holly-wong-lost-and-found Al Wong and Holly Wong “Lost and Found” Collaged photos, hand cut paper and duralene on cradled wood panel 16”x16” 2024 Available through June 17th only! #hollywongart #alwongart #500cappstreet #springinvitational #artbenefit #berkeleyartcenter #collage #collaborations #smallworks #worksonpanel