by Rosemary Jones

Less than a year after she graduated, Monyee Chau’s artwork is appearing all over the region on the Northwest Folklife Festival poster. “We’re beyond thrilled to have a young artist from Cornish as our artist for this year’s poster,” said Northwest Folklife communications coordinator April Jingco, who noted that Chau’s work is a perfect fit for the cultural focus of “Youth Rising.”

Chau said that after speaking with Jingco, she sent her a selection of work. “I have a series of works that is with genderless body forms that is about community and uplifting others. I was happy to share that series within a project and festival that encompasses that.”

In particular, this year’s cultural focus fit Chau’s own interests and design for the poster. “The youth is our future and we need to show them that we are here to listen and to support!” she said. “We cannot heal as a society without working together as a community and providing platforms for those with important voices. This poster was one that worked to combine all of the things that make Northwest Folklife special, celebration of diversity and different cultural experiences!”

Currently Chau is preparing for shows in March and April as well as designing pieces for her employer, The Wing Luke Museum. The 2019 Northwest Folklife Festival takes place at the Seattle Center, May 24-27.

Monyee Chau is a Seattle-based contemporary Chinese American artist who explores a journey of healing through decolonization and reconnecting with her roots and ancestors through a variety of mediums focusing on the theme of labor. She has been shown at multiple different venues throughout the community including Cornish College of the Arts, Pilchuck Glass School, Fred Hutch, and various independently curated exhibitions. She has been the recipient of multiple Pilchuck scholarships, Cornish’s Art Merit scholarship, and nominations to the Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture, and the Corning award.