Meet Sumi Zhang

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sumi Zhang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sumi, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I surfed on life decisions from the age of 14 and came to study in the states across the planet. Risk-taking might be interpreted differently depending on your perspective. Each minor or huge decision or change can be viewed as a risk or a fresh opportunity, depending on how you handle it, your strengths, or the upbringing you bring to the situation. I enjoy unexpected life experiences; each new opportunity fosters personal growth, presents new challenges, and inspires creativity throughout my journey. My artistic drive stems from researching various sectors in my life, which I became engrossed in when I initially started college with only one degree and little time to explore. I was pursuing a new career in tattooing and took a year off to learn it professionally. It may appear to be a risky option for most others, including my family, yet it led to a broader understanding of my artistic vision and personal growth. After a year of working, I gathered what I needed and returned to college to study illustration, reshaping my artistic life in this new path while still working as a tattoo artist. This life risk leads me to the next one: dipping my toes into the artist world with a gallery position. Being a curator and a tattoo artist allows me to open my workshop as an artist in the gallery, tell my story, and share my skills with more individuals who enjoy trying new things in their lives.
Every life journey involves some level of risk-taking. I believe that everyone grows differently; I appreciate growing in many artistic methods and guiding them along a unique path for myself, but it surely gives me the energy and creativity to make new works and keep moving forward.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a freelance illustrator and tattoo artist, currently based in New York City. My work is primarily character-driven, visually exploring states of existence in the present moment. My artistic approach includes more than just illustration and tattooing; additionally, I experiment with textile art, translating her 2D illustrations into sculptures and plush dolls, bridging the gap between flat imagery and tactile objects. My textile work has been displayed in a number of vintage establishments in Manhattan and Brooklyn, including the Women’s History Museum Vintage and By Liv Williamsburg. I have also attended tattoo events, such as a live tattoo event organized by Climate Café in Brooklyn. I am presently working at A Space Gallery, curating exhibitions and hosting workshops, and also as a resident tattoo artist at Vacation Forever.
My focus in creating works is to merge mediums and storytelling; each piece reflects my emotional and artistic journey and my present state. Whether in the form of a tattoo, an illustration, or a handcrafted plush doll, enables spectators and participants to experience transformation and individuality.
I aimed my creativity to connect with a wide range of audiences. I am enthusiastic about storytelling and experience through my work—both physical and conceptual—in which art can be experienced interactively, such as my gallery workshops that combine my tattooing and curation abilities.
I have grown in large part on difficulties I have faced, such as juggling different creative techniques and understanding cultural differences. I learned to embrace uncertainty and see each challenge as an opportunity to broaden my perspective.
Each decision that I’ve made brings me to who I am in the present. There are no 100% bad or wrong decisions; I believe that they are meant for me to grow and become who I am on this artistic and life journey. What inspires oneself won’t be identical to another; I trust my artistic insight and persistence will eventually take me to where I wish to be.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For the first few days, it will most likely begin in the Lower East Side and Chinatown in Manhattan. It is close to where I live and work most of the time, and there is a vast, diversified food and drink culture, ranging from Chinese to Greek, as well as clubs and quiet bars. This area also offers a number of fantastic gift shops where you can acquire designer goods that are distinctive and entertaining! For the next few days, I’d like to take them to Chelsea to visit galleries and wander along the waterside. Visiting Little Island and the High Line for a unique New York view. And during the last few days, I like to take them to Brooklyn, perhaps to the Botanical Garden near the Brooklyn Museum, Dumbo for the Flea Market, or to Williamsburg for a nice brunch.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A Space Gallery

Website: https://sumiiiz.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sumiiiz?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D