Life & Work with Ming Wang of Jersey City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ming Wang

Hi Ming, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The idea of creating unseen images or digging up the image that lies deep in unconsciousness excites me the most in my practice. I studied illustration for my bachelor’s degree at the School of Visual Arts. During my studies, I tried different kinds of illustration and worked as a children’s book illustrator when I was still at school. One of the main principles of illustration is successfully delivering messages and ideas, most of the time the idea of another person. When I work as an illustrator, I feel that even if I successfully deliver what the art director is asking for, I do not have a sense of ownership of the art I create. And this thought bothers me. Therefore I started thinking about if there are other creative paths I can take other than illustration. I explore many different directions in undergrad including graphic design, 3D modeling, ceramic…Later I noticed that among all the mediums I explored, painting is the medium that I keep turning back to. It is the inherent openness and possibility in painting that allow me to delve into ambiguous images and seek the meaning of the work in progress.

In 2020, I started working for Stella Zhang, a cross-medium artist based in California as an artist assistant. In Stella’s studio, I assisted in producing artwork as well as studio administration tasks. Witnessing the daily practice of a fine artist solidified my desire to pursue this career path. With encouragement and support from Stella and my family in California, I pursued a graduate degree in MFA Visual Arts at Columbia University. At Columbia University, I delved deeper into my practice and met fantastic artist mentors, curators, and fellow artists. The time in graduate school allows me to push my practice and art career further. I am honored to show my painting internationally in renowned galleries in New York, Sweden, and China in recent years.

Currently, I maintain active studio practice as a visual artist while teaching drawing courses to undergraduate students in the School of Visual Arts. Finding the path as an artist takes work. On this path, one has to keep exploring and learning to form a unique perspective. And being able to insist on your unique voice is important as well. As an artist, you have the agency to determine what kind of work you want to make and the definition of success. This is something I learned along the way, and I hope I can always remember.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think the most challenging part of being an artist is building a sustainable career and finding a balance between art, work, and life.

By saying art, I refer to it as the pursuit of art, the foundational drive in each artist to create. Being an artist is not an easy and smooth path, and I believe each artist decides to walk on this path because there is something that they genuinely want to bring to this world.

While work includes the work associated with one’s career as an artist, such as administrative work in the studio, replying to emails, networking, etc., in many situations, the artist might need another day job to pay the bills and sustain their practice.

In addition to the two aspects I mentioned, artists are human beings as well! We have family and friends that we care for and need to take care of our needs. I am currently working as an art educator along with my painting practice and am always trying to find the perfect balance between art, work, and personal life.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My art is a reflection of my experiences in the world around me. Through paintings and prints inspired by everyday snapshots, I aim to capture the feeling and sensation of fleeting moments. Whether it’s the sensation of lying on summer grass, gazing at tree canopies; wandering through a city at night, watching the river flow; or recalling a conversation on park benches—these scenes evoke a mix of déjà vu and dream-like unfamiliarity. Because in the process of recalling and visualizing memories, some parts stay and some parts merge with the feeling at the moment and become something new.

In my solo exhibition at A/W Space in Nanjing, China, in 2023, I presented a series of paintings centered around a shadow character’s journey through the natural and urban landscapes of New York City. Each piece drew from a personal memory of the past three years. By utilizing an identity-less shadow character, I invite any individuals living in the vast concrete jungle to resonate with my work.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I consider myself an introvert, and honestly, it was not easy for me in the beginning to put myself out there. However, I was told that networking is an important part of the job as an artist, so I force myself to show up at openings and events as much as possible. As time went by, I noticed that I benefitted the most from the more in-depth relationships that lasted for years with the person I truly connected with.

I have college and graduate school professors who have always been there for me since the beginning of my journey. I have artist and nonartist friends with whom I can share joy and worry and be genuinely happy for each other’s success. These people help me the most in my life and art career, and I want to do the same for them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mingwangart.com
• Instagram: @mingmingmingwang

Image Credits
Ming Wang and A/W Space, Nanjing