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Whether it's your bodega man or the people who run your nearest laundromat, New York is a city filled with ordinary people who do extraordinary things for their communities—yet, these everyday icons don't always get the flowers they deserve.
Just ahead of the Lunar New Year, Poster House is partnering up with Welcome to Chinatown to curate an exhibition that will highlight some of the neighborhood's most beloved figures.
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Starting January 20, the museum will showcase work from Amanda Phingbodihipakkiya and Christina Young, the artists in the museum’s 2025 Artist in Residence program.
Amanda Phinbodhipakkiya's exhibition will showcase a collection of four intergenerational portraits from Chinatown residents, which were created through intimate conversations with these figures in their homes, restaurants and shops across the neighborhood.
“Through building this work, I witnessed how Chinatown pulses with transformation, yet remains anchored by an unshakeable foundation of community. Through gentrification, recessions and a pandemic, this neighborhood has not merely survived, but flourished,” said Amanda Phinbodhipakkiya. “From seafood vendors who kept their doors open for their elderly patrons during lockdown, to the community rallying together to rebuild after devastating fires, this work honors Chinatown’s enduring spirit and compassion that secures its future.”
Then, from January 21 through April 20, the Asian products store Pearl River Mart will display a tapestry that features a collage of images, memories, and poetry symbolizing the interconnectedness of Chinatown’s past, present and future.
Christina Young's poster shows thirty locations across Chinatown, including Doyers Street, Uncle Lou on Mulberry Street, and Wing On Wo & Co. on Mott Street. Along with the posters, Young created an itinerary and map encouraging people to visit the businesses illustrated in the poster, which will be on display through February 24.
“For my residency project, I knew I wanted to highlight the many small businesses that call Chinatown home. They’re a vital part of what makes this neighborhood so unique and its community so strong,” Christina Young said. “ It’s unfortunate that many places from our childhood were forced to close during the pandemic, but it’s important to remember that the city is constantly evolving and that the spirit of Chinatown remains strong.”
You can buy tickets to Poster House here.