Works by Oscar yi Hou at Sotheby's
Oscar yi Hou Biography
Oscar yi Hou is celebrated for his evocative paintings that bridge East and West. At a time of heightened violence against Asian communities across the United States, yi Hou questions what it means to be “Asian American” and who is considered “American.” His art delves into themes of cultural identity and diaspora, employing vibrant color palettes and a fusion of abstract and figurative elements.
Growing up in Liverpool, England, yi Hou worked at his parents’ Chinese restaurant, The Great Wall. The adornments around his figures are indebted to the Asian diasporic consciousness he cultivated from that childhood. In his work, yi Hou paints himself into this historical past, welding together two identities—gay and Asian American—that might have been irreconcilable in visual media at the time. Yi Hou's works offer a poignant reflection on heritage, belonging, and the complexities of a dual cultural identity with a unqiue, collage-like approach.
