Asian American Artists: From 1840 to Now

A stunning, centuries-spanning celebration of more than 250 Asian American artists, including Ruth Asawa, Isamu Noguchi, Shahzia Sikander, Martin Wong, and more Asian American Artists: From 1840 to Now is the most expansive survey to date of artists of Asian descent, whose work has profoundly shaped art history and the cultural landscape of the United States.Spanning more than 180 years, this long-overdue book makes evident the indelible impact of Asian American artists – from Lai Yong, born in 1840 and the earliest known artist of Asian descent to have worked in the United States, to rising star Sasha Gordon, born in 1998.Readers will find work by more than 250 artists, including Bernice Bing, Chitra Ganesh, Yayoi Kusama, Dinh Q. Lê, Corky Lee, Chiura Obata, Yoko Ono, Nam June Paik, Paul Pfeiffer, Rirkrit Tiravanija, and Salman Toor. Each artist is represented by a striking image of an emblematic artwork paired with insightful commentary. Ranging from internationally celebrated names to historically overlooked talent, with practices spanning painting, sculpture, performance, photography, video, textiles, ceramics, and more, the artists reveal the extraordinary breadth of Asian American art history.The book features an illuminating foreword by John Yau and an introduction by Aleesa Pitchamarn Alexander that traces the political origins of the term Asian American, the experiences of early Asian artists in the United States, artist-led activism and collaborative practice, and a Diaspora without borders.Created in collaboration with an advisory board of curators, historians, and scholars, and produced in partnership with Stanford University’s Asian American Art Initiative, this timely volume will be a lasting reference for art lovers, collectors, educators, and institutions.