This course focuses on modern and contemporary Asian American art and architecture from the mid-1800s to the present. It is not intended to be an encyclopedic survey of Asian American art. Rather, each class will focus on a case study—the work of a particular artist, architect, or an art group—to examine what Asian American art looked like at specific historical junctures and what it meant to be an Asian American artist. We will trace how social and legislative processes such as immigration policies, identity politics, and struggles over citizenship rights impacted the Asian community and shaped artistic practices. We will be equally attentive to solidarity movements that united Asian American artists with other artists of color in the United States. Furthermore, we will follow several major American artists and architects who traveled to various Asian countries and collaborated with artists there. Thus, we will not only reconstruct an expansive history of Asian American art but also situate this history within the larger history of American art. A range of material practices, including painting, sculpture, installation, performance, new media, architecture, and graphic illustration will be considered.

This course fulfills the following Major requirements: Geographical area (B) or (C), and Chronological period (III), based on the topic of the final research paper or project.

*This course will not meet for discussion sections.