Gen. Y Perspective: Young Chinese Artist on the Road to Success
September 26, 2008
Nikki Lau habitually fell asleep during her high school Advanced Placement Art History slideshow, but she now hopes to make eyes pop open with her art.
At college in Seattle, Nikki’s work was displayed in several art exhibitions and commissions. Howard House, a major art gallery in Seattle, hosted one of her most notable exhibitions on the University of Washington campus.
Her juried art exhibition for Howard House included a wooden bench where she carved Ginko leaves and fish onto the surface. One of her pieces was also on display at the Allen Library at the University of Seattle, where she put the face of Frida Kahlo on the head of a deer and placed it on a large altarpiece made of paint, tissue paper and plastic bags.
For many young artists, the struggle to rise within the ranks requires soul searching and dedication. For the 22-year-old San Francisco native, it required her to find a balance between her artistic goals with school. She found that balance by studying for AP U.S. History during long nights.
But the countless hours paid off. In high school Nikki’s work was exhibited in a citywide high-school art competition. She also designed the cover for her school’s newspaper.
When Nikki left San Francisco to go to college at the University of Washington, the art projects only got bigger and bigger. Many included public art displays at a local library and local stores.
Not only did college assist Nikki in growing as an artist, but it also helped her figure out how to market her artistically inclined talents for a career in public art.
“That’s where the money is at — commissions give you the most bang for your buck,” said Lau, who isn’t yet sure if she’ll stick to the public art form as a career.
For any young worker in America, knowing how to sell your abilities to the mass market is key. As a young artist, the competition to be on top is a balancing act between selling yourself and selling out.
“It’s a competive market if you’re competing for public art and it’s competitive if you’re just making your own art. And when your making your own art is hard not to get commercial. My goal right now is to have a fine line between commercial and non-commercial art.”
For the younger generation of high school and future college students seeking a career in the art field, Nikki dispenses a few words of advice: “Take more art classes; if you don’t try you’re just gonna be failing yourself. And take some time out to learn about the world — your art will be so much better.”
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