Yongbo (they/them) is an interdisciplinary artist who explores the archives of queer existence. The Chicago based artist uses cultural symbols and allusions to pieces of writings to narrate the emotional and physical experiences of the queer community.
They approach their work as if they are a historian and writer, researching the subject and material as a way to appreciate the past and inspire a new form of storytelling. Their work is a result of lived anecdotes, societal observations, and historical research on the topic of queer existence presented as a fictional narrative which plays with the contrasting idealistic vision of identity versus the reality of human flaw and contradiction. Influenced by the dramatic and elegant style of Baroque paintings and vivid design 19th century illustrators, Yongbo's full compositions and saturated colors invite the viewer in, yet upon further inspection unveil nuances and details that are waiting to be discovered. Their practice also explores the marrying of formal illustration with crafting skills to confront the audience with multidimensional layers of the narrative. They are inspired by the Baroque and European ornamental architectural styles seen in futurniture and frames of the time. Often their sculpture and 3d work are informed by these styles. Their work fuses together the past, present, and imaginary with reality--a testament to human society's integral practice of storytelling.
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CV
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 “The Art of Being: Loud, Proud, Alive” Chicago Center for Arts and Technology, Chicago IL (Curated by Yidi Wang)
2025 “Are We There Yet?” Zhou B Art Center, Chicago IL (curated by Caroline K Ng and Francine Almeda)
2025 “ARTGASM Artist Residency Show”, Northwestern Institute for Gender and Sexual Minorities’ Health and Wellness, Chicago, IL (curated by Jim Carey)
2025 “W/E”, Side Street Studio Arts, Elgin, IL. (curated by Andrew Vo)
2025 “Yardbird Artist Showcase”, Yardbird, Highland Park, IL (jurors: Yongbo Hayden and Marlon Hernandez)
2024 “COMM[UNITY] II”, PLAYGROUND DETROIT, Detroit, MI (Juror: Paulina Petkoski)
2024 “Michigan Regional Glass Exhibition”, Janice Charach Gallery, West Bloomfield, MI (Jurors: Albert Young and Natalie Balazovich)
2024 “ This Was Meant to Be”, Senior Exhibition, College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
2023 “ Patchwork: An Eclectic Experience”, Design Studio 6, Detroit, MI (Jurors: Neo Hopkins and Sami Abad,)
2023 Student Exhibition, CCS jury, College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
2022 Student Exhibition, CCS jury, College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
2021 Student Exhibition, CCS jury, College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
2020 Student Exhibition, CCS jury, College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
CURATIONS
2025 “ Yardbird Artist Showcase”, Yardbird, Highland Park, IL (jurors: Yongbo Hayden, Marlon Hernandez)
PUBLICATIONS
2024 Whitney Hockman, “Spline” Detroit, MI, May 10, 2024, pp. 85-90