LAY-ING OJI
About
Lay-Ing was born in Sarawak, Malaysia. She came to United States for college and got a degree in graphic design. After college graduation, she moved to Japan and worked as a graphic designer in Nagoya for a year before moving back to United States. She has been living in Houston, Texas since 1992 and started freelance graphic design works between Houston and New York.
Lay-Ing has always been interested in fine art. In 2008, after turning 40, a pivotal moment she decided it was time she would devote full time for art-- painting. She became member of the Houston Civic Arts Association and had studied under Jo Mullendore. In Summers, she went to New York City to study at the Art Students League of New York with Bruce Dorfman. Because of the pandemic, Mr. Dorfman's combined mediums class has been available online. She immediately takes on the opportunity to study under Mr. Dorfman and has been taking his classes ever since. In 2022, she is admitted to be a member of the Art Students League of New York.
She is unique in that her abstract art is always composed from personal experience, prose/poetry, and philosophy. Colors and collage materials build up layers and create depth to her paintings. Through the rubbed-down soften edges and textual backgrounds, the gradation of nuance shades resonate not only the spirit of the ancient Chinese and Japanese literature & poetry but also reflect the pursuit of modern age mindful and simplistic lifestyle.
After many experiments of working with different mediums, Lay-Ing finds the acrylic with polymers and collage materials are the right channels to her abstract paintings--combined mediums on canvases.
All images copyright Lay-Ing Oji 2010-2021