Visual Artists featured at Asian Heritage Month Art and Photo Exhibitions 2026
Stephen Yau CSPWC, an international awards-winning artist and international art competitions juror, was born in Hong Kong and now lives in Toronto, Canada. Stephen recently received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his achievements in art. He is a member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolours (CSPWS), Mondial Art Academia (MAA) France, International Watercolour Masters (IWM) England, honourable director of the Dynasty Watercolour Association (DWA) Toronto and Art to fly HK. His paintings have been exhibited in 43 solo and more than 300 group exhibitions in various countries; and are in the collections of Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong Jockey Club, Hong Kong Land, Galerie D’Art Sepia, Paris ( France), Diploma Collection (Canada), City of Markham ( Canada), Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Toronto ( Canada), Philippe Charriol Foundation ( France), private and corporate collections worldwide.
Yau has started watercolour since 1977, being hailed as a genius of light and established himself as one of the international watercolour masters. He has been exploring different series of acrylic works since 2002. Land series is his most popular acrylic series, expressing Hope and Joy of nature.
I studied graphic design in Hong Kong Polytechnic and had the privilege of learning water- color under Master Maytin Kan and modern Chinese ink painting with renowned Kuo-sung Liu. My artistic journey also led me to pottery under the guidance of Ms Yee-fun Mak in Hong Kong Fringe Club. Shortly after immigrated to Canada, where I continued to explore and expand my creative horizons. Over the years, I’ve studio in Richmond Hill while also serving as a guest art curator for Alexander Mackenzie High School art program for years. Today, I am still passionate about creating art that blends tradition with innovation. Through tutoring and mentoring, I strive to inspire the next generation of artists while continuing to evolve in my own visual language.
Joe Cho is an Asian-Canadian ink painter based in Canada whose practice bridges traditional Chinese literati aesthetics with contemporary live performance art. Rooted in classical brush philosophy and calligraphy, his work transforms ink from a contemplative medium into a dynamic public experience. Through large-scale live painting performances, he merges disciplined brush control with spontaneity, creating works that preserve the rhythm, movement, and emotional energy of their creation. Born in Asia and now working in Canada, Joe draws deeply from poetic symbolism and cultural memory, often incorporating expressive motifs that embody vitality and renewal. His paintings have been featured in cultural celebrations, concert events, and charity auctions, reflecting his commitment to community engagement.
Jimmy Rice (wing Fai Lam) is a contemporary artist from Hong Kong with over 20 years of cross-disciplinary creative experience, working across sculpture, installation, public art, and visual concept development. He has collaborated with internationally renowned brands including Lamborghini, Coca-Cola, Calvin Klein, and Converse, bridging artistic thinking with commercial practice. His work explores themes of humanity, power structures, and the condition of our time, often using symbolism and spatial language to invite reflection and dialogue. For Jimmy, art is not merely about aesthetics, but a way to respond to the world and ask meaningful questions.
IG : jimmyrice_art
Event co-organizers: Asian Heritage Month—Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture (Central Ontario) Inc.; Toronto Public Library; Asian Institute at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto; Richard Charles Lee Canada Hong Kong Library, University of Toronto; Chinese Canadian Photography Society of Toronto; Social Services Network; Cambridge Food and Wine Society
Asian Heritage Month Festival is partially funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Asian Canadian Artists in Digital Age is funded by Canada Council for the Arts Digital Strategy Fund