Meet Angie Kang | Writer & Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Angie Kang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angie, what inspires you?
In my work, I am concerned with small intimacies. Likewise, my inspiration tends toward the domestic: Daily chores, fresh fruit, observations from a walk around the neighborhood, conversations with a stranger, conversations with a friend. I often find myself interrupting dinners to note down something wise or silly that my partner just said, and my notes are littered with dreams and memories as they occur to me. And of course, I also find inspiration from other art. Some artists and writers I consistently return to in order to fill my well are: Rosmarie Waldrop, Beatrice Alemagna, Victoria Chang, Charlotte Ager, Sam Alden, K-Ming Chang, Jillian Tamaki, and Weng Pixin.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love trying my hand at all sorts of genres. As an illustrator and writer, I make paintings for books, covers, theatre posters, personal commissions, and more; I also write short stories, essays, picture books, and comics. Often, I have an idea for a narrative only to cycle between mediums for months just to find the one which is right for the story. Although I love the restriction of working with only prose or only paint, it’s most exciting when I can play with the relationship of word and image: what is shown, what is told, how those things can contradict. It’s a fun challenge to negotiate these two mediums fighting and complementing each other on the same page.

If I read a particularly good story or see a striking painting, I’ll immediately want to create something. My forthcoming picture book, OUR LAKE, actually began as an ekphrastic poem based on a Milton Avery painting titled “Quarry Bathers,” whose dreary palette compelled me to write a narrative about family, grief, and healing. After some encouragement from my partner to turn it into a full dummy for submission—and of course to my agent for believing in it as well!—I was enormously lucky that this quiet story found a home with Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House. The team there has been fantastic throughout the process, and it’s been a joy to see a tiny fledgling poem unfold into a full book. There’s still a year before OUR LAKE comes out—although that isn’t that long of a wait in publishing terms!—and I’m both deeply nervous and excited for folks to read it.

Something I’ve learned—and am working on—is to acknowledge each accomplishment. I used to feel like certain achievements weren’t big enough to celebrate, but in a drought of success, every win, however small, is a boost and encouragement to keep going. Being a full-time artist means so many insecurities, financial and otherwise, and it’s difficult enough to have sustained faith in your work without dismissing your wins for not being splashy enough. These days, I’m also trying to slow down and be more intentional with work-life balance instead of giving myself entirely over to pursuing institutionally sanctioned ideas of achievement—academic degrees, prestigious residencies, a litany of awards, etc. I think there’s a lot of pressure to succeed—whatever that may mean—early and young, but I keep reminding myself that a deeper life leads to deeper art. Taking time is in service of both the artist and the art, and at the end of the day, it is just a joy and privilege to be able to write and paint. I don’t want to ever lose sight of that.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I only moved to LA a few months ago, so I myself am having a blast exploring suggestions from friends. I love going to vintage shops like Sunbeam Vintage for furniture and trinkets—even if I don’t leave with something, it’s always fun to look at the beautiful pieces and dream. My favorite literary haunts are Stories, which has a great cafe and selection of books, and Heavy Manners Library, which also has a wonderfully eclectic list of graphic novels, art books, and events. For an affordable and yummy meal, I love Qin West Noodle for a bit of northern-Chinese comfort food.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve been fortunate to have a network of support and love that will both cheer me on and give me much-needed critique to help me grow—everyone in my community has had some hand in shaping my life and thereby my career as an artist. This shoutout is thanks to all of them: My parents, of course, for their love and support. My tireless agent, Anjali Singh. Past professors: Chika Unigwe, a generous reader who was the first to believe in my writing; Fred Lynch, who offered countless bits of salient advice about both illustration and life; Rick Moody, who got me into making comics and whose early encouragement is the reason I still do. My found family and past roommates who have made a home and share this art journey with me: Javier Syquia, Jeffrey Katz, Shelby Nicholas. My writing and emotional confidants Maegan Murphy, Ricardo Jaramillo, Hairol Ma, and countless other friends I’ve made at workshops and residencies over the years. And of course, Jonathan Muroya, my partner, whose unrelenting love and support has shaped me into the person I am, whose own art inspires me every day, and to whom I owe everything.

Website: www.angiekang.net

Instagram: anqiekanq

Twitter: anqiekanq

Image Credits
Headshot: Jonathan Muroya