Imagined Places and History in “Martin Wong: Chinatown USA” at Wrightwood 659
Wrightwood 659 in Chicago presents "Martin Wong: Chinatown USA," the first museum exhibition of the Chinese-American queer artist Martin Wong (1946–1999) since 2017. Curated by Yasufumi Nakamori with Ashley Janke, the show features over 100 works including vibrant paintings of San Francisco's and New York's Chinatowns, ASL paintings, sculptures, and archival materials. Wong's work explores imagined histories, gender fluidity, and identity, drawing on popular culture references like Bruce Lee and consumer goods, as well as his own collection of graffiti by artists such as Keith Haring and Lady Pink.