Gallery Spotlight: Ho Yang Fine Art Emphasizes Engaging, Connecting with People through Art

Ho Yang Fine Art in Clinton, NC,?is both a labor of love for artist Grace W. Ho and her husband Ken T. Yang, and a symbol of commitment to their community, which they describe as a “small town with big hearts."

In the current holiday season, the downtown storefront glows with lights, greenery, and hand-cut paper decorations, while the interior gallery and studio spaces feature the second show since the facility’s opening in April 2022.

The couple arrived in Clinton in 1998. Over time, their own family grew to include four children, and Grace cultivated her longtime interests in art and teaching.

That evolution sparked a dream of having a more extensive art-oriented space. “I kept circling back to being close to family, Ken, and home. The idea of a mixed-use residential and commercial space became the goal.”

Since opening, notes Grace, “we’ve opened it up to public high school art teachers and their students for tours, Q&A sessions, demonstrations of art techniques, and just general engagement with teachers and other emerging artists. Our motto, 'all ages...all are welcome,' stems from our practice as family physicians. And through my work, I will continue to focus on healing as practice.”

The gallery has hosted two separate shows of Grace’s work to date, the first curated by Grace and the second by Ken, and a third is scheduled for early 2023. Each features 10-15 pieces in the main gallery, and an additional 15-20 in the studio area — some for sale, some awaiting shipment to buyers, and others not for sale.

Grace says her vision and planning for shows typically includes developing a “big idea” (seasons, nature, healing, time) and then selecting and arranging individual pieces in ways that make connections, although the big idea can also emerge from looking at pieces in the couple’s collection.

“My hope is to be as flexible as possible. That's what I appreciate about Gallery System; it seems to work with me and what I hope to show through my work,” says Grace. The facility is equipped with a?GalleryOne steel cable picture hanging system, which has made their space useful for display and proved ideal for holiday decorations.

Originally published (full length) on GallerySystem.com.