Artist Statement

As an Asian American non-binary printmaker, I experienced an anti-Asian hate incident in my hometown of Berkeley, CA at the beginning of the pandemic. I began letterpress printing to counter the hate and divisiveness in the U.S. that is fueled daily by Trump. My prints are messages that I want to see out in the world as I am pained to see the rampant racism, violence, and discrimination being directed at BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities.

Using a wood type letter “O,” I printed “A Cloud of Hugs” and “A Conga Line of O’s” at the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum. I saw the “O’s” circular form as a symbol for unity, solidarity, and hugs.

I am constantly inspired by printmakers using the power of the press as a positive force in the world. I am so grateful to be part of such an inclusive, diverse, and generous Print Community.

Bio:

Sharon Jue was born in Oakland, California at the same hospital as former Vice-President Kamala Harris. They started their creative journey as a filmmaker. “My Mother Thought She Was Audrey Hepburn” is a 17-minute-long film they made as a graduate student at San Francisco State University. The film is a personal statement about growing up Asian American and slowly coming to terms with their ethnic identity.

But then, they took a printmaking class and never looked back. After graduating with a B.F.A. in Printmaking at California College of the Arts, they became an Artist-in-
Residence and staff person at the Kala Art Institute. Their love for letterpress printing grew exponentially due to excellent workshops taken at Penland, Arrowmont, Partners in Print, and Kala.

In 2024, they were granted a BIWOC Artist Residency at the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum which was one of the BEST experiences of their life.