Current Exhibitions

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MOON & STARS in the Desert

A Celebration of Femme Asian American Pacific Islander Artists of CaliforniaCurated by Sung-Hee Son

Opening Reception:

Thursday, February 6th, 4 to 7pm  Free and Open to the Public

Exhibition Dates:

February 6th to March 28th, 2025

The Walter N. Marks Center for the Arts is proud to present Moon & Stars in the Desert, an extraordinary exhibition showcasing the creativity and cultural diversity of femme Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) artists in California. This groundbreaking show features the works of 20 accomplished and emerging artists whose practices span a wide spectrum of contemporary themes, materials, and techniques.

The exhibition continues the Moon & Stars series, which began at bG Gallery in the iconic Bergamot Station. This first-of-its-kind initiative highlights the individuality and diverse heritage of femme AAPI artists while challenging orientalist stereotypes and celebrating artistic innovations.

Among the exhibition highlights: 

• Lauren YS (aka SquidLicker), a globally renowned contemporary muralist will paint a custom permanent mural in the courtyard of the Marks Art Center. 

• Kristen Liu-Wong, beloved for her bawdy, pastel-hued portrayals of modern day bacchanalia, brings her signature blend of humor and subversion to the show.  

• Sijia Chen returns with her continued explorations of cultural identity and community through transformations of paper-cut immigration papers into sublime otherworldly settings.

• Kyongboon Oh offers poignant reflections on her immigrant journey, navigating realms of history, politics and the quest for belonging. 

• Ibuki Kuramochi, celebrated as LA Weekly's 2019 "Artist of the Year", brings her groundbreaking vision, captivating audiences with her Butoh-rooted performance art in live and digital forms. 

• Mary Lai, an award-winning artist & designer, debuts her painting Eye of the Artist, a kaleidoscopic exploration of bold textures and colors that encapsulates the spirit of Moon & Stars.

The full roster of participating artists includes: Amelie Laurice, Amy Inouye, Amy Lyu, Chun Son, Flora Kao, Ibuki Kuramochi, Kristen Liu-Wong, Kyongboon Oh,  Lauren YS, Lili Miura, Mary Lai, Sasinum Zohm, Shizuko Greenblatt, Sijia Chen, Sung-Hee Son, Suwichada Busamrong-Press, Ting Yang Han, Yoon Chang, Yoshie Sakai and Yumiko Glover.

About the Curator

Sung-Hee Son is a Los Angeles-based curator and conceptual artist whose work explores identity, cultural diaspora, and the liminal spaces between experience and imagination. With professional roots in Boston and New York City at institutions such as Sotheby’s Art Auction House, Pratt Institute and James Cohan Gallery, Sung-Hee brings a wealth of knowledge to her curatorial practice. Her mission is to amplify emerging voices and foster community through art.

About The Walter N Marks Center for the Arts

The Walter N. Marks Center for the Arts, on College of the Desert’s beautiful, mid-century-modern Palm Desert campus, is an art gallery that programs several diverse and professionally curated exhibits every year. Free admission and free parking.

Contacts for more information:

Sung-Hee Son, Curator, sunghee310@gmail.com | @sunghee_curates

Grace Kim, Community Relations, graceykim0208@gmail.com | @curatorgraceykim
Mary Lai, Art Director, mary@marylai.com | @marylai.co