About June He
June He’s works are a tribute to the victims of COVID-19. Her art became a lens for her as a female immigrant artist to bring her unique perspective to the forefront, as well as cope with the harsh realities and restrictions the pandemic induced. Her paintings, collages, and installations are part of an ongoing body of work that helps her navigate the turbulent world and, at the end of this humbling experience, still see the light of humanity. She earned a Bachelor of Engineering, Industrial Design from Jiangnan University, a Master of Fine Arts, Art and Design from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has been featured in numerous exhibitions globally. She has additionally acted as a teacher and workshop lead In the United States and China and been published in numerous newspapers and journals. Aside from visual art and design, she wrote the fiction book Lonely Manhattan and wrote and illustrated the children’s book Kaia and Tutu’s Journey to the World.
New Brunswick Art Salon 2021 – Oil and Mixed Media: “Bonds Beyond Time”
Artist’s Personal Website: https://www.junehetheartist.com
Email: artistincloud@gmail.com
Artist Statement
I was planning to celebrate my grandpa’s 90 birthday in 2020. However, when the time came, I could not see him. I live in New York and he lives in China. Because of COVID-19, I could not afford the few operating international airlines between the US and China. The ticket price has increased 6-8 times. He is in lockdown at a senior citizen’s home. Therefore, we decide to cancel the big celebration.
2020 brings me a very humbling experience. My perception of the world has been changed. From work, family, to trivial things in daily life that I used to do, suddenly becomes impossible. As an immigrant, a female, and an artist, I want to bring my unique perspective to this global situation through the lens of art. The submitted art works include oil paintings, collages, and installations I created since Covid-19in spring 2020. It’s an ongoing project. Creating these pieces helps me to navigate through the situation and mentality in the turbulent world, where people were bombarded with various information from various perspectives and media. The artworks are my tribute to the victims of the pandemic and my efforts to seek the light of humanity. It represents my process to record history, explore emotion, and find the truth
Exhibitions
2021. Privilege, Power, and Everyday Life, Studio Montclair Gallery, Montclair, NJ
2020. 42nd Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Monmouth Museum, Lincroft, NJ2020. New Directions
2020. 36th Annual National Juried Contemporary Art Exhibition, Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie, NY
2020. The Flag Project, Rockefeller Center, New York City, NY
2020. Look Back in Wonder, Arts Mid-Hudson Gallery, Poughkeepsie, NY
2020. ABSTRACT, Queen City 15 Fine Art Gallery, Poughkeepsie, NY
2020. Prayersfor the Pandemic, Drawing Rooms, Jersey City, NJ
2019. Independent Art Book Fair, Industria Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
2019. Vision Expo West, Sands Expo Convention Center, LasVegas, NV
2019. SILMO Paris, Paris Nord Villepinte, Paris, France
2018. MIDO, Fieramilano Rho, Milan, Italy
2009. Art + Design MFA Exhibition, Krannert Art Museum, Champaign, IL
2008. Disability + Design, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Union Art Gallery, Urbana, IL
Awards
2021. Third Prize of Short Essay Competition by Chinese Writers Association of New York
2014. Second Douban Fiction Writing Competition Finalist, China
2008. Creative & Performing Arts Fellowship, Illinois, USA
2006. International Kitchen + Environment Design Competition Shortlist, Brussels, Belgium
2005. Ming Furniture Design First Award,Dongguan, China
2005. Shanghai Electric Industrial Design Copper Award, Shanghai, China
2004. National Fellowship for Outstanding SYTU Student, Wuxi, Chin