Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and activist. As artist-in-residence with the NYC Commission on Human Rights, Amanda’s art series celebrating the resilience of the AAPI community,  “I Still Believe in Our City'', reached millions in New York City and worldwide through her Atlantic Terminal billboard, subway domination, and social media amplification. In the wake of the Atlanta shootings in March 2021, art from the series appeared on the cover of TIME magazine. From large-scale murals, augmented reality (AR) experiences, 3D printed sculptures, and interactive installations, Amanda makes the invisible, visible. She has explored microscopic universes, familial memories, and the power of collective action, challenging viewers to rethink the world around them and revealing the often unseen depth, resilience, and beauty of communities of color. Her work has been shown at the Cooper Union, Google, the Sorbonne, and recognized by The New York Times, Fast Company, and the Guardian. She has received support from the Sloan Foundation, the Café Royal Cultural Foundation, and the Jerome Foundation and her work is part of the permanent collection at the Goldwell Open Air Museum. Earlier in her career, Amanda worked as a researcher studying Alzheimer’s Disease at Columbia Medical Center and received her MFA from Pratt Institute. She is currently working on FINDINGS, a national mural series celebrating women and science, in partnership with the Heising-Simons Foundation.

 

Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya on Vote Your Future (2020):

“Women, and especially women of color have become incredibly influential voting blocs for our country. In this series, pairs of women stand defiantly, ready to determine their futures amidst a flurry of stars, stripes, and ballots. Around them, verdant life blooms, signifying the change these women of color are bringing to our country by exercising their right to vote.

"As a 14 year resident of New York City, I never dreamed my art would appear in the bright lights of Times Square, a place that people from all over the world journey to experience. We’re living through a moment full of hurt and hardship, but the act of voting can serve as a beacon of hope among a sea of despair. Through this essential right that women and people of color fought so hard for, we can ignite change and create new possibilities.

"Just like our government, our art and culture is shaped by every generation. I am encouraged by the passion of our nation’s youth, and excited for the tens of millions of young people who will be at the ballot box for the first time in 2020. But no matter our age, race, or gender, the responsibility for upholding our democracy falls to us all.”