Relational Art

How I gather:
A glimpse into my connection with people.

Drawn to the themes of identity and relations, my art explores ways to act as a quiet catalyst for better human connection in its various forms and contexts. Whether I am healing my own family relations, fostering a support network for creatives, or serving questions to strangers during a meal—my artistic mission is to create gateways to forge more intentional connections with one another. I believe meaningful relations are the secret sauce to joy and fulfillment.

牽做伙 (To T.M. & Su)

Documentary
Born 13 years after her 阿公阿嬤 (maternal grandparents) passed, Emily feels an inexplicable longing for two people she never met. Through rituals of Go, music, timeless style, and family storytelling, she steps into their world—and finds solace in her own.

Side Projkt.Club (SP.C)

Community
A periodic guided critique session held in New York between casual artists and art-seekers across disciplines. Following our motto to Be Fearlessly Imperfect, presenters bring in personal projects that are scrappy, almost-there, or stuck. Through facilitated discussions, SP.C inspires artists to bring their projects to unexpected heights, spark creativity for participants, and foster new relations.

Our Trace of Time

Dining Experience
Disguised as a three-course meal, a series of carefully curated questions guide guests on an emotional journey of introspection and gratitude. Closing the experience, an unexpected trace of time is revealed and gifted.

  • 2024

    • Meeting Memories featured at Community Critique @Afterthought, SVA affiliate, NYC

    2023

    2019

    • Our Trace of Time: Nostalgia, ticketed experience produced by Flower Shop Collective (FSC) in Brooklyn

    • The NoPro Review, ‘Our Trace of Time’Uses Experience as a Vehicle for Connection, by Allie Marotta

    • Our Trace of Time, ticketed experience produced by FSC @Cafe con Libros, Brooklyn, NY

    • The Uncommon Art Salon, hosted by the Carty Group @The American Irish Historical Society, NYC

    • Joined Flower Shop Collective, Brooklyn-based Art Collective

    2017

    • Touchable Art Exhibit @Granoff Center for the Creative Arts, Providence, RI

  • "[Our Trace of Time] is looking to recreate everyday social situations under the lens of art and is revolutionary in the manner that spectators are permitted to participate in and affect the resulting performance."
    — Allie Marotta, No Proscenium

    "Emily Kao is one of the most detailed and process-oriented designers I have had the privilege of working with... her first instinct is to ask questions regarding intention... Her attention to the important links design can offer human connection is very impressive."
    — Nadia Tahoun, Founder of Flower Shop Collective