Join us for the opening reception of American Asian, a group exhibition celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at the Avondale Arts Center.
Guest curator Nicole Kang Ahn’s exhibition statement:
“Asian Americans have long been an integral part of the American story, shaping its cultural, economic, and social landscape in both seen and unseen ways. Yet for much of history, particularly in the American South, our stories have remained invisible, our voices too often unheard. American Asian is a group art exhibition that seeks to expand and redefine that.
Featuring the work of 16 local artists of Asian descent, this show honors the complexity, richness, and diversity of the Asian American identity. Through painting, sculpture, mixed media, and installation, the artists explore themes of migration, memory, displacement, belonging, and resilience—speaking to the "third culture" experience that many Asian Americans navigate daily: a constant negotiation between heritage and homeland.
The history of Asian Americans in Georgia reaches back over a century. In the late 1800s, Chinese laborers were brought to Augusta to work on expanding the Augusta Canal. Their presence marked the beginning of Asian migration to the state. Since then, Georgia’s Asian American and immigrant population has grown exponentially, with metro-Atlanta now home to one of the fastest-growing Asian populations in the country. From Korean churches in Duluth to Vietnamese bakeries on Buford Hwy, from Indian grocery stores to Filipino community centers, Asian Americans are not just part of the South—they redefine it.
American Asian is more than a celebration—it is an assertion in reclaiming space, telling our stories, and expressing our identities on our own terms. We honor those who came before us and pave the way for generations to come.
From this May through June, we invite you to Avondale Arts Center to experience the diverse voices and visions of Asian Americans.”
Participating artists:
Leah Abucayan
Andrew Blooms
Helen Choi
Killamari
Crystal Jin Kim
Christina Kwan
Jessica Lee
Lynx Nguyen
Jeffrey Wilcox Paclipan
Ash Rader
Janice Rago
Farha Reshamwala
Sanithna
Broly Su
Trudy Tran
Soo Kim Yung
When: Opening Reception, Fri., May 9 from 6-9 p.m. Free and open to the public.
Where: Avondale Arts Center, 84. N. Avondale Rd., Avondale Estates, GA 30002
American Asian will remain on display through a Closing Reception from 6-9 p.m. on Sat., June 21, 2025. The Avondale Arts Center is open to the public on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Hours: The Avondale Arts Center is open on Sunday mornings from 10 am to 1 pm, select Saturday afternoons, and by appointment. Check out our Instagram for additional open hours, and email us to arrange private showings.
Parking: There is free parking in the small lot in front of the Avondale Arts Center, note that there is one way in and out of the front lot via Lake St due to roadwork. There are also two large free lots as well as free street parking behind the building that is accessible via Lake Street.