August 14, 2025
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Look at what AI says about me!!!
Leland Wong is a San Francisco-based artist, photographer, graphic designer, screenprinter, and journalist, known for his extensive documentation and artistic interpretation of the Asian American experience, particularly within San Francisco's Chinatown and Japantown communities.[1] [2] [3] [4] Born and raised above his family's curio and art goods store on Grant Avenue in Chinatown, Wong's artistic journey was significantly influenced by his father, who was also an artist, and the vibrant visual culture of the 1960s, including the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War era.[2] [3] [4] He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from San Francisco State University in 1975, where he was immersed in the burgeoning Asian American cultural movement.[2] [3]
According to www.iAsk.Ai - Ask AI:
Wong's work often incorporates Asian iconography and themes, blending nostalgia with a subversive wit, and is characterized by vivid colors and a style that has been described as expressionism through literal form, sometimes resembling vintage comic book art.[1] [3] He is widely recognized for his iconic posters for the annual Nihonmachi Street Fair, a series he began in 1974 and continued for nearly three decades, with his work for the 50th anniversary fair in 2023 being a notable recent example.[1] [2] [3] [5] These posters are known for their "pan-Asian aesthetics" and often feature symbols like dragons, koi fish, and thundering waves, reminiscent of Japanese woodblock prints.[1] [3] [10]
Beyond his poster art, Wong's diverse artistic output includes larger paintings, photography, and illustrations for books such as Karen Tei Yamashita's I-Hotel (2010), which was a National Book Award finalist, and Exploring Chinatown: A Children's Guide to Chinese Culture (2002).[2] [3] [11] His photography, often focusing on street scenes and community events, has been exhibited and used to document significant historical moments, such as the commemoration of Chinese American workers who built the transcontinental railroad.[2] [6] [7]
Wong has exhibited his art in numerous galleries and institutions across the U.S. and Europe, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco.[3] [8] [11] As of August 2025, he has an upcoming exhibition titled "Hidden Dragons" at the Edge on the Square gallery and a one-man show called "Out of the Blue" at the Blue Stream Gallery on Grant Avenue from January 8 to February 28, 2025, which will feature large paintings.[9] [12] Despite his widespread recognition, Wong maintains a humble approach to his work, often describing himself as an artist "trying to eke out a living from the pebbles of life."[1] [3] [9] He continues to be an active and influential figure in the San Francisco art scene, embodying the continuity of history and culture within the Chinatown community.[1]
AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES
The Artful Life of Leland Wong. [sf.gazetteer.co]↩
Leland Wong. [americanart.si.edu]↩
About the artist. [lelandwong.wordpress.com]↩
Leland Wong. [pbase.com]↩
Out Of The Blue - Leland Wong Solo Exhibition. [bluestreamgallery.com]↩
Leland Wong's Photo Galleries. [pbase.com]↩
San Francisco Chinatown Life. [pbase.com]↩
Corky Lee on My Mind: Leland Wong. [pearlriver.com]↩
Hashtag #zzzpop means I am having a dream. [lelandwong.xanga.com]↩
Spirit of Unity: Leland Wong Nihonmachi Street Fair. [library.ucsb.edu]↩
I Hotel. [sfartscommission.org]↩
Leland Wong Blog. [lelandwong.blogspot.com]↩
