Tori Hong
Artist Statement
At the root of my practice is reverence for my ancestors and future generations. To explore this, I make autobiographical art informed by the methods and materials of my heritage: paj ntaub (Hmong embroidery) and hanji (Korean paper). I’m particularly drawn to the tensions and harmonies between my two lineages. Although the Hmong and Korean both originate from Asia, they have distinct histories and cultures. As a child of divorce born in diaspora, feeling “whole” was never a given. Only through creating hybridized art have I been able to make sense of my place in the world and give birth to something new.My process begins with research, wandering between subjects, mediums, and methods. Along the way, I take notes, journal, and receive feedback from my communities. There will be a moment when the project crystallizes, transforming into a concept that demands to be unearthed. I enter a phase of concentrated repetition, echoing an action over and over until it accumulates into a new form. My practice allows me to sit with my intuition (and what is intuition if not the wisdom of our ancestors?), paying respect to crafts my people have practiced for millenia. By carrying forth these dying art forms, I endeavor to not only preserve our knowledge but to transform them for the future. This is how cultures adapt and survive.
Ultimately, my practice is an ongoing investigation into the breadth and depth of our humanity; I hope my audience experiences the spectrums of grief and hope. My work invites the viewer to reflect on their own ancestral roots, as complicated as they may be, and contemplate the choices they can make for our descendents. How do we survive these troubling times without forgetting where we came from and who we’re living for?
Currently based in Honolulu, HI, I received my MFA in Illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design (2025). Select awards include: Art Annex Artist-in-Residence (2026), RISD Graduate Commons Grant Fellowship (2025), RISD Spur Fund (2025), AICAD Teaching Fellowship nominee (2025), AIGA Worldstudio DxD Scholarship (2024-2025), Everwood Artist Retreat (2024), Springboard for the Arts Hinge Arts Residency (2021), MRAC Next Step Fund (2020), Forecast Public Art Early Career Research and Development Grant (2020), and more.
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