SSEW makes international debut

SSEW Project is making its international art fair debut at the San Francisco Art Fair. Founded in early 2024, the young gallery has quickly made a name for itself, from developing an impressive artist roster to participating in its first fair, Art Toronto 2024. Stepping onto the global stage with a compelling selection of artists is a testament to SSEW’s unique vision and commitment to championing underrepresented voices.

Dedicated to showcasing contemporary artists of Asian descent and global diasporas, SSEW Project embraces its namesake – (“sew”) – by fostering intellectual exchange and inclusive connections among artists, collectors, and audiences.

For their inaugural international fair appearance, SSEW Project will present works by an impressive roster of eight different artists, each bringing a unique and thought-provoking approach to their practice:

• Hayley Chi Hay Chiu is a second-generation Chinese Canadian painter exploring cultural symbolism and personal mythologies through high realism and layered imagery—winner of the Untapped People’s Choice Award at Artist Project 2024.
• Xiang Gao is a Chinese painter who is challenging the evolution of traditional Chinese art through innovative techniques and perspectives.
• Brubey Hu is a multidisciplinary Chinese artist who bridges linguistics, transnational feminism, and architectural drawing to examine cultural and personal identity.
• Genie Kim is a Korean-Canadian artist based in Toronto whose sculptural work explores themes of endangered species, motherhood, and healing.
• Kejie Lin is a first-generation Chinese artist reinventing traditional Gongbi painting techniques to express contemporary themes.
• Tao Ma is a Beijing-based painter known for his evocative works that capture warmth, nostalgia, and reflections on everyday life.
• Phuong Nguyen is a Toronto-based Vietnamese artist working in oil painting and experimental weaving, exploring themes of Orientalism and cultural representation.
• Andrew Ooi is a self-taught Chinese-Canadian artist using intricate paper sculptures to challenge perceptions of time, space, and artistic tradition.
• Hui Yu is a celebrated Chinese Gongbi painter whose work has been exhibited internationally and is part of major museum collections in China and beyond.

“We are incredibly proud to be exhibiting at this year’s San Francisco Art Fair,” said Anita Yuluo Wei, Director of SSEW Project. “As a new gallery, this opportunity affirms our commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and engaging in meaningful dialogue through contemporary art. We are looking forward to bringing our artists to a new city, and to further develop our relationships in a city with such a deep respect for culture and the Asian diaspora.”

With this milestone, SSEW Project solidifies its reputation as a gallery to watch, demonstrating that even in its infancy, it has the vision and calibre to stand alongside established international galleries.

SSEW Project’s booth at the San Francisco Art Fair will be open to visitors from April 17 – 20. For more information, visit ssew.ca or follow SSEW Project on Instagram.

Photo supplied by Haley Chiu.