Spotlight Artist

Ellie Kayu Ng

MFA Annual
Artist profile photo

Alice’s Dress

Woman sitting at a table with various dishes and flowers in a colorful kitchen.

oil on canvas

Silent Partner

Woman in a patterned dress sitting beside a mannequin on a colorful bed, dramatic shadows cast.

oil on canvas

Broadway Show-ers

Two women in floral dresses hold hands in a painting above two women drinking together.

oil on canvas

Featured in New American Paintings1 / 3

Artist Statement

  Clothing is a language that speaks for people before they even say a word. As an immigrant in America seeking a sense of belonging, however, I often dress to blend in, and so I feel that my wardrobe has a limited vocabulary. I’ve silenced a part of my true self that I’m curious to rediscover. In wondering what person I would become if I didn’t care about the unspoken rules of dress and behavior, I came up with the solution to paint myself in borrowed outfits and accessories on canvases, where rules and norms don’t apply. By utilizing this language, I get to create, experiment, and experience new personas in every painting. This practice allows me to remain inconspicuous within my community and still pursue art individuality at the same time. I have become both the window dresser and the mannequins in my paintings.

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