Meet Bonnie Wong

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

Hi Bonnie, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I haven’t always been proud of my background. Earlier on in life I was embarrassed to call myself Chinese, I didn’t want to associate with the culture or the people. In my neighborhood there weren’t any kids who looked like me and there wasn’t the representation I was looking for. I tried to push it away and labeled myself as Asian American, simple and easy. But it wasn’t until I started college I did some reflecting about who I was as an illustrator and what I wanted to communicate. What makes me unique? What do I want to say with my work? In my junior year of college, I created an illustration of my family enjoying dim sum. It consisted of my family sitting around a round table and I scattered my favorite dishes across. This invited people who have shared this same experience with me but also new faces who wanted to know more. I felt this warm feeling being able to share a personal part of myself with everyone. During the remainder of my time studying illustration, I would continue to tap into my background and experiences growing up Chinese-American. I want to continue to share these stories for everyone to enjoy and feel seen.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an illustrator! Picture-book illustrations are what make me most happy and proud. I aim to evoke all sorts of emotions and feelings of warmth in my work! A lot of my work consists of busy environments or activities. Each little itty bitty detail placed is well thought out to tie the entire piece together. Hints trail across the page rewarding the viewer with aha! moments. Personal work I create comes from daily life activities and memories. A trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art transforms itself into kids causing chaos at the museum! Fairies painting wings in a makeshift workspace arise from visits to the butterfly vivarium. I find inspiration comes from experiences! Memories of foods I grew up with and experiences of being Chinese-American show up in my work a lot too. I know these stories too well and I love sharing them to the world. Whether it be exploring tiny worlds or sharing a nostalgic and intimate meal, I enjoy drawing it all. Being able to hear people relate or have lived through the work I put out there makes illustration feel extra special.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Tough question! I wish I knew all the cool spots, I like to stay low in quiet places. But some of my favorite places to hang out are the parks in NYC. We have so many! Central Park, Roosevelt Island, Forest Park are all great spots for a picnic and a chance to get away from the city streets. Bring a blanket, a couple friends, and snacks for an afternoon of endless conversations. Next on the list isn’t for everyone, but I enjoy people watching: The Union Square Barnes and Noble is one of the best places to draw patrons reading their books and sipping on coffee. Heading down south to Chinatown is where you can find foods of diverse regions from China. I gravitate towards the dim sum restaurants scattered throughout the neighborhood! I’d suggest checking out the rice noodle and Hong Kong egg waffle carts as well. And to end the day off, a visit to Martha’s Bakery in Forest Hills for their yummy and fluffy cakes (their Tiramisu is my favorite.)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Ah! I wouldn’t be where I am without the help of my professors. Prior to college I was this quiet kid who skirted around talking to teachers and avoided drawing attention to myself. This was until I started studying illustration! I realized I wouldn’t be able to grow without being curious and making the most out of my time at college. Not only are these professors amazing illustrators but they are a support system and I feel comfortable confiding in them. To name a few: Arielle Jovellanos teaches me to be kinder to myself when it comes to balancing work and mental health. Shin-Yeon Moon encourages me to be the best illustrator and friend I can be. Jason Raish reminds me to keep being hungry and continue working hard. I can go on and on but I appreciate everyone who I’ve ever received advice from. I am fortunate enough to be where I am today! Hooray!

Website: www.bonniewongart.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ghoulishgals