BIO
Gwen Yip, born in 1979 in Hong Kong, and currently based in New Jersey, the United States of America, is a contemporary painter primarily working with acrylic on canvas. Yip is best known for her distinctive flattened forms that depict figures in urban landscapes.
Yip seeks universal beauty within the tapestry of everyday people in urban life. Notable among her projects is the Backs series, which is further distinguished by its segmentation based on iconic cities: New York City, Hong Kong, and London, where the artist has lived and worked. In these series, Yip adeptly strips away extraneous urban details while retaining just enough to convey a complete and evocative narrative for each piece.
Yip has exhibited in New York, London, Amsterdam and Hong Kong. Her work can be found in private collections in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, and her native Hong Kong.
CV
Selected group exhibitions:
2022 The Maximum Minimum, The Gallery Space, Rahway, New Jersey, USA
2017 32nd Chelsea International Fine Art Competition Exhibition, Agora Gallery, New York, USA
2012 Oxfam One-seventh Exhibition, Edge Gallery, Hong Kong
2012 Postcardwall, Vegas Gallery, London, UK
2012 Postcardwall, Mall Galleries, London, UK
2011 Passion For Art, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong
2011 Desire, The Portman Gallery, London, UK
2011 Devour, Battersea Evolution, London, UK
2011 The Future Generations, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong
2010 The New Tapestry, Steendrukkerij Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2006 Islington Contemporary Art and Design Fair, Candid Arts Trust Galleries, London, UK
Collections:
Gwen Yip is collected by various private collectors in United Kingdom, Netherlands, Japan and Hong Kong.
Awards:
2010 John Moores Painting Prize (shortlisted), National Museums Liverpool, London, United Kingdom
2008 40 Under 40 Awards, (winner), Perspective, Hong Kong
2008 Young Design Talent Award (winner), Hong Kong Design Centre, Hong Kong
Selected press:
Tris McCall, “Artists Do More With Less At “The Maximum Minimum” Show At Gallery Space In Rahway” in NJArts (2022) at https://www.njarts.net/artists-do-more-with-less-at-the-maximum-minimum-show-at-gallery-space-in-rahway consulted on 28 March 2022
Editor, “Moderne Solitude” in Courrier International (2018)
Editor, “A View From The Back: A Series Of Paintings By Gwen Yip” in Juxtapoz (2018) at https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/painting/a-view-from-the-back-a-series-of-paintings-by-gwen-yip/ consulted on 22 Jan 2018
Alice Harrison, “Gwen Yip’s Paintings Reveal The Isolation Of City Life” in Ignan (2018) at https://www.ignant.com/2018/01/15/gwen-yips-paintings-reveal-the-isolation-of-city-life/ consulted on 15 Jan 2018
Publications:
Working Holiday in London, Hong Kong: Skywalker Press, 2009
Trans-Siberian Railway, Hong Kong: Yi Wo Publishing, 2003
Travel Diary in Europe, Hong Kong: Yi Wo Publishing, 2002
Professional contributions:
2011-2013: Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
2010: Speaker, MaD Conference, Hong Kong.
Education/training:
2009-2010: MA Fine Art, Central Saint Martins, London, United Kingdom