MARKHAM, ON.- SSEW Project, a rising name in Canada’s contemporary art scene, is making its international art fair debut at the prestigious San Francisco Art Fair today. Founded in early 2024, the young gallery has quickly made a name for itself, from developing an impressive artist roster to participating in its first fair, Art Toronto 2024. Stepping onto the global stage with a compelling selection of artists is a testament to SSEW’s unique vision and commitment to champion underrepresented voices.

Dedicated to showcasing contemporary artists of Asian descent and global diasporas, SSEW Project embraces its namesake - (“sew”) - by fostering intellectual exchange and inclusive connections among artists, collectors, and audiences. Their rapid ascent in the Canadian art world highlights not only the strength of their curatorial vision but also the demand for fresh, diverse perspectives in contemporary art.

For their inaugural international fair appearance, SSEW Project presents works by an impressive roster of 8 different artists, each bringing a unique and thought-provoking approach to their practice:

● Hayley Chi Hay Chiu (b. 2001) – A second-generation Chinese Canadian painter exploring cultural symbolism and personal mythologies through high realism and layered imagery. Winner of the Untapped People’s Choice Award at Artist Project 2024.

● Xiang Gao 高翔 (b. 1989) – A Chinese painter challenging the evolution of traditional Chinese art through innovative techniques and perspectives.

● Brubey Hu 胡琬芝 (b. 1993) – A multidisciplinary Chinese artist whose work bridges linguistics, transnational feminism, and architectural drawing to examine cultural and personal identity.

● Genie Kim (b.1968) is a Korean-Canadian artist based in Toronto whose sculptural work explores themes of endangered species, motherhood, and healing.

● Kejie Lin 林可婕 (b. 1970) – A first-generation Chinese artist reinventing traditional Gongbi painting techniques to express contemporary themes.

● Tao Ma 马焘 (b. 1981) – A Beijing-based painter known for his evocative works that capture warmth, nostalgia, and reflections on everyday life.

● Phuong Nguyen (b. 1992) – A Toronto-based Vietnamese artist working in oil painting and experimental weaving, exploring themes of Orientalism and cultural representation.

● Andrew Ooi (b. 1979) – A self-taught Chinese-Canadian artist using intricate paper sculptures to challenge perceptions of time, space, and artistic tradition.

● Hui Yu 喻慧 (b. 1960) – A celebrated Chinese Gongbi painter whose work has been exhibited internationally and is part of major museum collections in China and beyond.

“We are incredibly proud to be exhibiting at this year’s San Francisco Art Fair,” said Anita Yuluo Wei, Director of SSEW Project. “As a new gallery, this opportunity affirms our commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and engaging in meaningful dialogue through contemporary art. We are looking forward to bringing our artists to a new city, and to further develop our relationships in a city with such a deep respect for culture and the Asian diaspora.”

With this milestone, SSEW Project cements its reputation as a gallery to watch, demonstrating that even in its infancy, it has the vision and caliber to stand alongside established international galleries.

As many established Canadian galleries pause plans for U.S. art fairs due to ongoing trade tensions, SSEW Project is seizing the opportunity to expand despite the challenges. With economic/logistical hurdles, SSEW Project has made the bold choice to move ahead and connect with new audiences in a city that has a deep cultural connection to the Asian diaspora.

SSEW Project’s booth F10 at the San Francisco Art Fair will be open to visitors from Thursday, April 17th - Sunday April 20th. For more information, visit ssew.ca or follow SSEW Project on Instagram.

San Francisco Art Fair Hour of Operations

Thursday, April 17, 2025: 6—9pm
Friday, April 18, 2025: 11am—7pm
Saturday, April 19, 2025: 11am—7pm
Sunday, April 20, 2025: 11am—6pm

SSEW PROJECT

Founded in early 2024, SSEW Project (pronounced "sew") is a dynamic gallery based in Markham, Ontario, dedicated to showcasing the works of contemporary artists of Asian descent, as well as local and global diasporas. Embracing its namesake, SSEW ("sew"), we encourage intellectual exchange and inclusive connections with artists, collectors and viewers to sew together a tapestry of artistic and cultural narratives.