Meet Cathy Lu | Artist & Educator

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

Hi Cathy, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?

I decided to make the work that I wanted to make; to allow myself to experiment without putting a value judgment on it. I stopped thinking as much about the work’s legibility.  For a long time I was making art without much external validation, and it made me really reflect on why I was doing what I was doing. It led to a place where I realized that I was making work for myself, and with or without external validation, it was going to be a lifelong practice. I should also say that I’m defining success as making artwork that I’m excited about, work that is missing from what’s available in the art world.

This is maybe not a ‘decision’ per se, but I’ve also been lucky to have my partner, friends, and mentors that help me – from giving me advice on how to handle a sticky situation, recommending me for a teaching job, or helping build crates, etc. I feel they really helped me become ‘successful’, without their guidance and help, it would have been so difficult to accomplish anything.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I’m a ceramics based sculpture and installation artist that explores how experiences of immigration, cultural hybridity, assimilation becomes accepted as part of American identity. I have made work comparing the cultural authenticity of vases in the Asian Art Museum SF with their replicas in Chinatown. I cast fruits from Chinese neighborhood markets as a way to talk about the struggle for immigrant communities to belong in the U.S. More recently, I have been reimagining garden creation myths like the Garden of Eden and the Immortal Peach Garden as a way to explore the U.S. as both a utopian and dystopian space for AAPI and other excluded communities struggling to belong.

I went to grad school to get an MFA for art, which was really great to have that dedicated time and community to devote to my art making. However, post grad school, it was a real struggle financially. I worked retail for awhile, I would have 10+ part time jobs in a year. Eventually, I was able to support myself through teaching classes and workshops at community centers and eventually started teaching at colleges and universities.

My first studio post grad school was at Root Division, a non profit arts organization that provided subsidized studios and classes. It was a great community, and I met amazing artists and friends there. Around 2015 I got my first grant from the San Francisco Arts Commission, and that enabled me to buy my own kiln and make work for my first solo show, which was a game changer for me. From there, I slowly started to have more exhibition opportunities and go to more residencies.

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?

in SF:

Chinatown SF – I love walking down Stockton and visiting the produce markets. I love the view of Chinatown from the bridge outside the Chinese Culture Center. Plus there are some great art spaces like Chinese Culture Center (and their project space at 41 Ross), Jessica Silverman Gallery, Friends Indeed and Et Al.

My favorite bubble tea place is 茶妍觀色 By me boba tea  across from 41 Ross.

in Richmond CA:

The Edible Forest off the Richmond Greenway near 16th street is basically a forest of fruit trees for the community of Richmond. They have peaches, plums, pears, olives, apples, etc. Its one of my favorite places.

Isabel Point – It’s a nice park, lots of dogs, but mostly I love to find ceramic shards there. There used to be a pottery company there called TEPCO and when they closed, a lot of their pottery just ended up in the water. You can still collect shards there.

I also love going to Ranch 99 and getting pastries from Sheng Kee Bakery in Richmond.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

Chinese Culture Center SF – The curator there, Hoi Leung, is innovative and the programming is reflective of the diversity of identities and practices that make up the Chinese and Asian American community. The whole staff there is really amazing, and they really bring community activism and arts together.

Abby Chen at the Asian Art Museum has been bringing exciting contemporary works to that institution.

There are also so many amazing artists in the Bay Area that make amazing art in addition to building community here – Rochelle Youk, Christy Chan, Christine Wong Yap, Tracy Ren, Connie Zheng, Heesoo Kwon… really too many to list here! I feel lucky to be in their presence.

Website: www.cathyclu.com

Instagram: _cathyclu_

Image Credits
Aaron Rosenstreich