About the Artist
Naomi Kuo is a mixed media and social practice artist based in Houston, TX. Her work integrates drawings, zines, quilts, oral histories, and direct exchanges of resources, in efforts to help diverse communities strengthen connections of care with the environment and with each other. Subjects of interest include climate activism, urban ecology, Asian American experiences, and solidarity economies.
Kuo received an MFA in Studio Art (Social Practice Queens) at City University of NY, Queens College. Her artwork has been exhibited at the Queens Museum of Art (NY), Asia Society Texas Center, Houston City Hall (TX), and more. She is a 2023 recipient of The Idea Fund grant. She has also worked as an arts administrator, teaching artist, muralist and community arts facilitator.
Artist CV
Education
2019: Queens College (City University of New York) - MFA in Studio Art / Social Practice Queens
2013: University of Texas in Austin - BA in English (English Honors Program) and Studio Art
Awards & Residencies:
2023: Artists on Site, Asia Society Texas Center - Artist in Residence
2023: The Idea Fund (TX)
2021-2022: Creative Community Care Virtual Residency, Walls-Ortiz Gallery & Center / Ministry in the City HUB - Artist in Residence
2018 & 2019: Art Action Grant, Social Practice Queens
2013-2015: Transform Arts, Cru City - Artist in Residence
Select Exhibition History:
2023: “Climate Migrations,” Houston Climate Justice Museum @ POST Houston
2023: “Garden Traces” @ Houston City Hall Rotunda / Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (solo exhibition)
2021: “Out Front 24/7,” Southeast Queens Artist Alliance @ King Manor Museum and Flushing Town Hall (NY)
2021: “Art as Social Action: 10 Years of Social Practice Queens” @ Queens Museum
2021: “Process -> Project: What Comes Out of Our Sketchbooks,” Southeast Queens Artist Alliance @ Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning
2020: “Civic Art Lab 2019: Closing the Loop + Inhabiting the Loop” @ Chinatown Soup (NY)
2019: “Making Community Story Quilts” with Queens Memory @ Queens Museum (Community Partnership Gallery)
2019: “Partitioned Dreams: An MFA Thesis Exhibition” @ Klapper Gallery, Queens College
2019: “The Thing Seen” Queens College MFA Spring Show @ Aquarius Studios
2018: “Conversations with Harriet and Frederick” @ Walls-Ortiz Gallery and Center (NY)
2018: “Memories of Migration: Common Thread - Making a Community Story Quilt” with Queens Memory @ Flushing Community Library
2018: “A Fresh Civility” Queens College MFA Spring Show @ Plaxall Gallery
2017: “Commodity & Ideology” Korea Art Forum @ Klapper Gallery, Queens College
2016: "Paradise in the City" @ Local Project Art Space (NY)
2015-2016: "Who is My Neighbor? NYC" @ Walls-Ortiz Gallery & Center
2015: "Building Stories: Two Woman Show" @ All Things Project Gallery (NY)
Select Event History:
2023: Art Encounters: “Net-work” @ Museum of Fine Arts Houston
2023: The Role of Art and Cultural Organizing: workshop @ People’s Action National Convention (VA) - Panelist & Artist Collaborator
2020: “Shared Dialogue, Shared Space”: public art project w/ Korea Art Forum (NY) - Curator
2018: “Quilting Memories of Migration”: project capstone panel discussion @ American Folk Art Museum Self-Taught Genius Gallery (NY) - Panelist
For more information, contact the artist at nkuo19@gmail.com.