Angie Eng is an intermedia artist and educator whose diverse works span socially engaged art, conceptual art, and time-based media. Eng is also a humanitarian program designer, former founder, and director of cultural programs in the US, France, and Ethiopia. In-depth experience working with diverse populations worldwide to advocate for equality and justice through cultural arts programming. Involved at the onset of the tech industry and 20+ years of experience in education, the arts, and human service organizations.
While her background is in abstract painting, in the 1990s, she relocated from California to New York City to explore new frontiers in video sculpture, installation, and experimental live video. This early period of her career marked her emergence as a prominent figure in the downtown electronic art scene. Experimentation with various mediums and showcasing them in alternative venues earned her a first solo exhibition at Artists Space, where she exhibited two installations exploring the AIDS epidemic and the dynamic relationship between physical and virtual presence. She was also among the pioneers of New Media/Web-based art, receiving commissions for innovative projects such as Empty Velocity and Buddha Hotel from New Radio and Performing Arts and The Alternative Museum.
Eng’s practice extends beyond a singular medium or genre, as she adapts her approach to best convey her ideas. As she focuses on experimental approaches outside of the commercial art world, she primarily funds her work through grants. Over the course of her career, she has received more than fifty grants, commissions, and residencies from prestigious foundations and organizations such as New Radio and Performing Arts, Harvestworks, Art in General, Eyebeam, MacDowell Art Colony, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New York State Council on the Arts, Jerome Foundation, Alternative Museum, Experimental TV Center, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, the Boulder Arts Commission, and the Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture.
Angie’s collaborative projects reflect her interdisciplinary ethos, as she has worked with composers, architects, dancers, theatre, sound, and video artists. Her list of collaborators is a who’s who of avant-garde artists, Ron Anderson (Molecules), Rhys Chatham, Shu Lea Cheang, Maria Chavez, Audrey Chen, Luke DuBois, Vincent Epplay, Yuko Fujiyama, Jon Giles, Andy Grayton, Jean-Philippe Gross, Celeste Hastings, Sofi Hémon, Jason Kao Hwang, Simon Hostettler, Jessica Higgins, Hoppy Kamiyama, Koosil-Ja, Zach Layton, Okkyung Lee, David Linton, Jarryd Lowder, Shoko Nagai, Matthew Ostrowski, Jean Jacques Palix, Zeena Parkins, Liminal Projects, Kyoko Kitamura, David Linton, Thierry Madiot, Thomas Martinez, Geoff Matters, Ikue Mori, Pauline Oliveros, Jane Scarpantoni, Peter Scherer, Kevin Shea (Talibam), David Simms (Jesus Lizards), Jim Staley, Satoshi Takeishi, Atau Tanaka, Yumiko Tanaka, Keiko Uenishi, Elisabeth Valletti, Vire Volte Theatre, Nancy Meli Walker, Sean Winters, and David Weinstein.
With a career spanning over two decades in the field of art education, design, and implementation of art programming in human service organizations, Angie has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to social justice. Her pioneering work includes the establishment of numerous programs aimed at the upliftment and empowerment of marginalized communities. Notable examples of her work include stARTing, which provided contemplative art experiences to adults with developmental disabilities in Manhattan, Lifesigns, an AIDS awareness mural and theater initiative in Ethiopia, Eye2Eye, which empowered youth through media in the South Bronx, and Windup Media STEAM workshops for families and children in Paris.
More recently, during her doctoral studies at CU Boulder in Kosmorganic aesthetics, she established the Creative Catalyzers organization, which aimed to build bridges between sustainable companies, human service projects, artists, and tech companies. Her work as a European correspondent for the Fluxus zine, Artist Organized Art, further demonstrates her commitment to promoting critical dialogue between artists, art practice, and dissemination via public events.
A true global citizen, she has lived in diverse locales such as New York City, Paris(France), La Paz(Mexico), and Axum(Ethiopia), each of which has enriched her work and worldview. During her time in Mexico, she honed her language skills while working on her teaching methodology book, The Integral Lab, which aims to foster community, creativity, and compassion in the classroom.