Kate Yu

I create paintings and ceramic sculptures that critically examine the nuanced representation and identity of Chinese diasporic women living in the UK. I challenge reductive and stereotypical narratives, reclaiming the authorship of my personal and collective histories within what is often perceived as “invisible community.” My work investigates the complex intersections of race, gender, class and location, drawing from historical contexts, personal encounters, and cultural memories to capture the layered realities of identity and belonging.​ British-Iranian artist Partou Zia remarked, “Autobiography through self-portraiture is a rewriting of histories”, This statement deeply resonated with my artistic approach. Embracing this philosophy, I depict myself ambiguously—partially obscured and deliberately anonymous—to embody feelings of hypervigilance and vulnerability experienced in public spaces as a minority woman. These paintings are informed by diasporic and feminist theories from scholars like Homi K. Bhabha and Sara Ahmed, addressing feminist theory and negotiating identity in contemporary society.