Yeewan Koon

Yeewan Koon is a Hong Kong-based art historian, curator, and academic specializing in late imperial and modern Chinese art, contemporary Asian art, and Japanese contemporary art. She is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Art History at the University of Hong Kong, where she also serves as Associate Dean of Global. She is a prominent scholar of Yoshitomo Nara and author of a 2020 book on the artist.

Early life and education

Koon was born in Hong Kong and lived in Yuen Long in the New Territories before moving to the United Kingdom with her family at age six, growing up in Holloway, North London.

In 1996, Koon moved to the United States to pursue graduate studies at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University (IFA).

Research and publications

Books

Koon wrote a monograph on Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara, published by Phaidon Press in 2020.

Her other books include: A Defiant Brush: Su Renshan (1814-c.1850) and the Politics of Painting in Early 19th century Guangdong (2014), published jointly by University of Hong Kong Press and University of Hawaii Press

Curatorial work

Koon has curated several significant exhibitions: My Imperfect Self: Yoshitomo Nara, Blum Gallery, Los Angeles (2025) Everything is a Projection: Sheung Yiu, WMA, Hong Kong (2024) So long, thanks again for the fish, Levyhalli, Suomenlinna, Helsinki (2021) It Begins with Metamorphosis: Xu Bing, Asia Society Hong Kong Centre (2014)

Her co-curated section "Faultlines" at the 2018 Gwangju Biennale examined how systems of power manifest in daily decision-making, featuring artists including Byron Kim and Luke Ching exploring infrapolitics. The section was described as "brilliantly curated" and included Yoshitomo Nara's Tobiu (2018), one of his most political works to date, as well as Aernout Mik's video installation Double Bind (2018).

Professional service

Koon serves on the boards and advisory committees of major Hong Kong art institutions: Acquisition Committee Member, M+ Hong Kong (2022–present) Board Member, Para Site Hong Kong (2022–present) Gallery Advisor, Asia Society Hong Kong Centre (2018–present) Expert Advisor, Arts Development Council, Hong Kong Government (2012–present) Education Advisor, Asia Art Archives (2013–present) Museum Advisor, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Hong Kong Government (2010–present)

She is also a member of the International Association of Art Critics (2012–present).

Honors and fellowships

Senior Fulbright Scholar, Bard Graduate Center, New York (2018) Knowledge Exchange Award, Faculty of Arts, University of Hong Kong (2019) Visiting Fellow, Hughes Hall College, Cambridge University (2016) Visiting Scholar Mary Griggs Burke Fellowship, Columbia University (2016) Henry Luce/American Council of Learned Society Fellow for Program in China Studies (2015)