Born: Taipei, Taiwan
Resides: Kansas City, MO
EDUCATION
2016 Lithography Workshop, Tamarind Institute, Albuquerque, NM
2009– 2011 Master of Fine Arts, Painting – Boston University, Boston, MA
2006 – 2008 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Painting and Drawing – University of Washington, Seattle, WA
2002 – 2006 Bachelor of Arts, Psychology – University of Washington, Seattle, WA
GALLERY REPRESENTATION
2014 - 2019 Prographica/KDR Gallery, Seattle, WA
2013 Blindfold Gallery, Seattle, WA
CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA
SOLO & TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2023 Mind the Gap, StudiosINC Exhibition Space, Kansas City, MO
2022 Returning/Belonging: Kathy Liao and Benjamin Park, Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art, St Joseph, MO
2021 Charlotte Street Foundation Visual Artist Fellowship Exhibition, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Overland Park, KS
2018 Autonomous Bodies (3-person show), StudiosINC Exhibition Space, Kansas City, MO
Immigrant Stories, Monmouth College, Monmouth, IL
2017 Lingering Presence, Prographica/KDR Gallery, Seattle, WA
Floating World, Kiosk Gallery, Kansas City, MO
So Close and So Far, University of Central Missouri Art Gallery, Warrensburg, MO
2016 New Works on Paper, Art Source & Design Gallery, Overland Park, KS
Distance between Here and There, P.O.E. Foundation Gallery, Cottey College, Nevada, MO
2013 I’m Home, CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA
We Are Close, Blindfold Gallery, Seattle, WA
2012 Duality beyond Borders, Ethnic Heritage Gallery, Seattle, WA
2011 New Works on Paper, Burk Gallery, Seattle, WA
Reaching: MFA Candidate Show, Commonwealth Gallery, Boston, MA
2009 Reflection, Boston University Women’s Resource Center, Boston, MA
Behind the Façade, La Familia Gallery, Seattle, WA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 Found in Translations, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO
2021 Site One, Beco Gallery, Kansas City, MO
Stretch Marks, Project + Gallery, St Louis, MO, Juror: Jennifer Sea
The Space Between, Marks Art, Wichita, KS, Juror: Armando Minjarez
Materialist II, Leedy Voulkos Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2020 September Exhibition, Sager Braudis Gallery, Columbia, MO
Rebirth, Heidmann Art Salon, Kansas City, MO
2019 Look me in the Eye, Epsten Gallery, Overland Park, KS, Juror: Mike Lyon
Pink: An Exploration, The Sherman Smith Family Gallery, Zarrow Center, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK, Juror: CJ Charbonneu, Gretchen VanWormer, Catherine Crain
Now/Here, H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO, Curator: Silvia Beatriz Abisaab
StudiosINC:2019, StudiosINC Exhibition Space, Kansas City, MO
Materialist, Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, Kansas City, MO
21C Elevate- Kathy Liao and Misha Kligman, 21C Museum Hotel, Kansas City, MO
2018 In Her Own Image: Women's Self Portraiture from 1900-2017, Concord Center for the Arts, Concord, MA, curators: Amy Sudarsky
Perspective: Missouri Western State University Art Faculty Biennial Exhibition, Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art, St Joseph, MO
Documented: Perspectives on Migration and Creation, Haricombe Gallery, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
REALITY, Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, Kansas City, MO, jurors: Eric Dziedzic, Marcus Cain.
Figure: In Paint and Line, Steele Gallery at Gage Academy of Art, Seattle, WA
ASYAAF, LVS Projects, Seoul, Korea, curator: Sun Kyung
Painters who Fucking Know How to Paint, Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA, curator: Kate Vrijmoet
StudiosInc:2018, StudiosINC Exhibition Space, Kansas City, MO
2017 Current States, University of Kansas Art & Design Gallery, Lawrence, KS
In Memoriam, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati , OH
Honoring the Legacy of David Park, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
2016 You Will Never Be Younger Than You Are Today, PLUG Projects, Kansas City, MO
Portrayal: Contemporary Portraitures, North Seattle College Art Gallery, Seattle, WA
Current Tides: MWSU Faculty Exhibition, Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art, Saint Joseph, MO
29th Annual McNeese Works on Paper, Grand Gallery, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA
PLUG PROJECT Crit Night26, La Esquina Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2015 Belonging: Before and After the Immigration Act of 1965, Wing Luke Museum of the Pacific American Experience, Seattle, WA
Public Hanging, Kansas City Arts Coalition, Kansas City, MO
Intimate Responses, Fraction Gallery, Kansas City, MO
Urban Suburban XI, Epsten Gallery, Overland Park, KS
Observing Observing: A White Cup, Prographica Gallery, Seattle, WA
Fresh Paint Biennial, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio
Human Experience - Abstract Exhibition, Art at the Center, Overland Park, KS
28th Annual McNeese Works on Paper, Grand Gallery, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA
Texas National 2015, Jack and Doris Ledbetter Gallery, Stephan F Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX
Breaking Criminal Traditions, Schoenherr Gallery, North Central College, Naperville, IL
Do You Copy? The Hand Juried Exhibtion, Potter Gallery, Saint Joseph, MO
2014 Faculty Exhibition, Potter Gallery, Missouri Western State University, Saint Joseph, MO
Travelogue, The Lakeshore, Seattle, WA
I5 Connects II, Koplin Del Rio Gallery, Los Angelos, CA
Summer Show, Prographica Gallery, Seattle, WA
Being Human, South Seattle Community College Art Gallery, Seattle, WA
Any Day: Artists on Death, Steele Gallery, Gage Academy of Art, Seattle, WA
Sight Specific: A Selection of American Perceptual Paintings, curated by George Nick, Concord Art Association, Concord, MA
Breaking Criminal Traditions, Beverly Arts Center, Chicago, IL
IDxID: Identities Revisited, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle WA - Curator: Davida Ingram
Juried Community Art Exhibition, South Seattle Community College Art Gallery, Seattle, WA – Juror: Bryan Ohno
Ex Libris: 100 Books, 100 Artists, AXIS Gallery, Seattle, WA
2013 Observation from the New Golden Mountains, Kirkland Art Center, Kirkland, WA
Double Dozen, Lisa Harris Gallery, Seattle, WA
Like Water, Blindfold Gallery, Seattle, WA
Love at Home, Kate Alkarni Gallery, Seattle, WA
Orchid and Orange, ArtsWest Gallery, Seattle, WA
Women’s Work: Culture and the Feminine, ArtXchange Gallery, Seattle, WA
2012 Walk the Line, Ida Culver Broadview, Seattle, WA – Juror: June Sekiguchi
Show Us Yours, CoCA Members’ Show, Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA
Introductions 2012, Seattle Art Museum Gallery, Seattle, WA
ID x ID: New Identity, IDEA Odyssey Gallery, Seattle WA - Juror: C. Davida Ingram
25th Silver Anniversary Artist Trust Auction, Artist Trust, Seattle, WA
Reflections and Shadows, University House, Seattle, WA – Juror: June Sekiguchi
Seattle Print Arts Group Show, Collin’s Pub, Seattle, WA
2011 MFA Thesis Show, 808 Gallery, Boston, MA
Arches Student Print Show, Danforth Museum, Boston, MA
Tribal, Hamill Gallery, Boston, MA
2010 Boston Young Contemporaries Exhibition, 808 Gallery, Boston, MA – Juror: Katherine Bradford, Jessica Dickinson, Juao Ribas
Market Portfolio Print Exhibition, Sainsbury Center for Visual Arts, Norwich University, Norwich, UK
First Year MFA Candidate Exhibition, Commonwealth Gallery, Boston, MA
Realization of a Dream Juried Exhibition, Rubin-Frankel Gallery, Boston, MA
5×5 Group Exhibition, La Familia Gallery, Seattle, WA
2009 The Critical Eye Juried Exhibit, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle, WA – Juror: Robert Yoder
The 2009 Chelsea International Fine Art Competition, Agora Gallery, New York, NY – Juror: Ira Goldberg
Collective Vision Gallery Show Juried Show, Collective Vision Gallery, Bremerton, WA – Juror: Gary Faigan; Awarded Best of Show
2008 La Familia Gallery New Members Show, La Familia Gallery, Seattle, WA
Northwest Expressions, Art Port Townsend Juried Exhibit, Northwind Art Center, Port Townsend, WA – Juror: Barbara Shaiman; Awarded Merit Award
Beyond Borders, Viking Union Gallery, Bellingham, WA
BFA Thesis Exhibition, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle, WA
School of Art Open Juried Show, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle, WA – Juror: Billy Howard; Awarded Juror’s Award
AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS, & GRANTS
2022 Kansas City International Airport Public Art Commission
21c Kansas City Artadia Award
2021 BIPOC Leadership Circle 2021-2022 Cohort, ArtEquity
2020 Charlotte Street Foundation Visual Artist Award Fellow
2019 Most Influential Professor Nomination, Missouri Western State University Honors Program
Partnership with the Arts Community: Preservation Award, Historic St Joseph Foundation
Southside Mural Commission, South St Joseph Development Corporation
2018 The Kansas City Collection 2018-2019 Program Cycle
2016 Purchase Award, McNeese State University
2014 Full Fellowship, Jentel Foundation
2010 Brooks Fellowship Scholarship, Anderson Ranch Art Center
Howard Gotlieb Rare Book Collection Purchase, Boston University
Women’s Council Scholarship, Boston University
College of Fine Arts Merit Scholarship, Boston University
2009 Constantin Alajalov Scholarship, Boston University
Vermont Studio Center Artist Grant
2008 The Medium Artist Fund
The Elizabeth Greenshield Foundation Grant
Book Award, School of Art, University of Washington
Co-Arts Scholarship Award, Seattle Co-Arts
Gold’s Grant Award, Northwest Watercolor Foundation
Lambda Rho / Ramona Solsberg Endowment Fund
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS AND RELATED EXPERIENCES
2020 - present Artist Services Program Officer, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Kansas City, MO
2020 Associate Professor of Art (rank promotion), Missouri Western State University, St Joseph, MO
2014 - 2020 Assistant Professor of Art, Director of Painting and Printmaking, Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, MO
2016 - 2020 Peer Facilitator, ArtistINC, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Kansas City, MO
2012 – 2014 Adjunct Faculty - Printmaking, Seattle University, Seattle, WA
Adjunct Faculty - Painting and Drawing, DigiPen Institute of Technology, Redmond, WA
Instructor - Painting and Drawing, Gage Academy of Arts, Seattle, WA
Visiting Faculty - Drawing, University of Washington, WA
2012 Visiting Artist, Senior Seminar & Graduate Seminar, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Instructor, Winslow Art Center, Winslow, WA
2009 – 2011 Instructor - Printmaking and Drawing, Boston University, Boston, MA
Teaching Assistant, Painting II/III with Harold Raddicliffe, Boston University, Boston, MA
LECTURES, PUBLICATIONS, & PRESENTATIONS
2022 Visiting Artist, Senior Seminar in Fibers Department, KCAI, Kansas City, MO
2021 Visiting Artist Lecture (virtual), North Seattle College Art Gallery, Seattle, WA
The Creative Place We Want to Live, ArtLinks Conference, Arkansas Arts Council
Visiting Artist, Painting Department, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Visiting Artist (virtual), Painting Department, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
2020 Visiting Artist (virtual), Senior Seminar in Fibers Department, KCAI, Kansas City, MO
Guest Critic, Graphic Design Department, KCAI, Kansas City, MO
Artist Lecture (virtual), University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE
Visiting Artist Lecture (virtual), Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA
Visiting Artist Lecture (virtual), New York University, Shanghai, China
Visiting Speaker (virtual), Printmaking Department, KCAI, Kansas City, MO
2019 Building Bridges, H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City, MO
Materials and Process, H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City, MO
The Secret Handshake, panel presentation at FATE (Foundations in Art: Theory and Education) Conferenc, Columbus, OH
21C Elevate, Artist Lecture, 21C Museum Hotel, Kansas City, MO
2018 Third Thursday Visiting Artists’ Presentation, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Overland Park, KS (11/15/18)
Artist Talk, Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester, MA (8/5/18)
Distinguished Teaching Artist Workshop, Monserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA
Hello Atelier, Podcast Artist Interview, Episode 31
A Studio Visit with Kathy Liao, Kawsmouth Blog (5/8/18)
Visiting Artist Lecture, Emporia State University, Emporia, KS (3/15/18)
Artist Lecture, Monmouth College, Monmouth, IL (2/23/18)
2017 Art, Hope, and Immigrant Anecdotes, Panel Talk with Yoonmi Nam and Maria Velazco, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art (6/3/17)
Black history, humming heads and more: June in Seattle galleries, written by Michael Upchruch, Seattle Times (6/6/17)
Lingering Presence: Interview with Kathy Liao, written by John Seed, Huffington Post (6/1/17)
Family Connections: Kathy Liao's "Lingering Presence" is a personal narrative, written by Lisa Edge, Real Change, (5/31/17)
Kathy Liao's exhibition explores memory and connection, written by Ken Matsudaira, International Examiner, (5/14/17)
Artist Lecture, Mid-Missouri Artists, Warrensburg, MO
Gallery Tour and Artist Talk, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO
2016 Visiting Artist Lecture, University of Nebraska, Omaha
2015 Visiting Artist Lecture and Senior Exhibition Reviewers, University of Central Missouri, Warrensberg, MO
Aspirations with Limitation, Panel Presentation at FATE : Tectonic Shift 2015, FATE (Foundations in Art: Theory and Education) Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana
Attendee and Participant in the INKubator Sessions at SHPERE 2015: Southern Graphics Council International Conference, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Artist Lecture, Artist in Practice, Missouri Western State University, Saint Joseph, MO
Visiting Artist Lecture, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Alva, OK
Publication in The Hand Magazine, January issue, 2015
2014 Artist Interview with Christopher Lowrance, Midwest Capacity Blog, (12/3/14)
Artist Lecture, Conversation with Painters, Olympia, WA
A Day in the Life of Asian Pacific America, Photo documentary by Carina Rosario
RESIDENCIES
2022 Belger Arts Visiting Artist-in-Residence, Kansas City, MO
2022 Art Omi International Artist Residency Program, Ghent, NY
2018-2022 StudiosINC Residency Program, Kansas City, MO
2016-2017 Charlotte Street Foundation Studio Residency Program, Kansas City, MO
2016 Virginia Center for the Creative Arts Residency Program, Amherst, VA
2015 Brushcreek Ranch Art Foundation Residency Program, Saratoga, WY
2014 Jentel Artist Residency Program, Sheridan, WY
2013 Weir Farm Art Center Artist-in-Residence, Wilton, CT
2011 Goetemann Residency Program, Rocky Neck Art Colony, Gloucester, MA
2010 Anderson Ranch Arts Center Summer Workshop, Snowmass Village, CO
2009 Vermont Studio Center Artist Residency Program, Johnson, VT