KAY SEKIMACHI! CHIURA OBATA! JADE SNOW WONG! RUTH ASAWA! Pattern Recognition by Filipinx American artist Jenifer K Wofford — on view outside the Asian Art Museum — proudly proclaims the names of local Asian American artists. The mural inscribes these names into the fabric of the city and the history of art. It is just one example of how the museum celebrates and elevates Asian American artists. We are America, know our names. 

Amplifying the voices of Asian Americans — and saying their names — is vital at this moment in history. In the last year, we have experienced a horrifying increase in anti-Asian violence. These unprovoked, violent, and even fatal attacks have been fueled by rhetoric baselessly blaming people of Asian descent for the outbreak and spread of COVID-19. These hate crimes are only the most recent incidents in our country’s long and ugly history of scapegoating and dehumanizing immigrant and racialized communities in times of crisis. 

The Asian Art Museum condemns all forms of racism and xenophobia. We call for an end to this anti-Asian hatred and violence now. At this difficult time, we will continue to uplift the voices and experiences of the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community and to confront injustice through the power of art.

There is still much more work to be done and many more voices to uplift. Follow the link below to learn how you can get involved.

Jay Xu, The Barbara Bass Bakar Director and CEO of the Asian Art Museum; Fred M. Levin, Chair of the Asian Art Commission and Asian Art Museum Foundation; Salle Yoo, Vice-Chair of the Asian Art Commission and President of the Asian Art Museum Foundation; on behalf of museum staff, board, docents, storytellers, and volunteers.