10 Asian Artists to Brighten Your Instagram Feed
A list of underrated Asian artists on Instagram to liven up your feed with a variety of mediums, styles and stories.
This article is part of Mochi Magazine’s summer issue on Art: We invite you to expand your perspective of what art is or who an artist can be. As you check out the rest of our issue here, we hope you are inspired to find your own form of artistic expression.
Whether you’re an artist searching for inspiration or just someone tired of the same accounts circling through your feed, we could all shake up our social media browsing this summer. With that in mind, here are ten underrated Asian artists on Instagram to support with a click of a button. Encompassing a range of various mediums and styles, this list of some of my favorite accounts — while not comprehensive by any means — will hopefully introduce you to someone you love (or at least provide some interesting content to scroll through for an afternoon).
Yingzong Xin / @yingzong_xin
As a character designer for Pixar and one of Forbes 30 Under 30, Yingzong Xin has already led an exceptional career. Her Instagram account is no less impressive, containing subversive redesigns of familiar characters from media like the Disney princess movies and the “Harry Potter” series. Scroll down, and you’ll find Xin’s Hanfu photoshoots and stylized drawings inspired by traditional Chinese art.
Mollie Ong / @mollieong
You may recognize Mollie Ong’s delightfully creepy illustrations from shows on the YouTube channel Watcher, for which she received a silver medal from the Society of Illustrators. (As a Watcher fan myself, I can speak to the sheer delight I felt seeing Asians represented in these scenes!) In addition to these black-and-white drawings, Ong’s Instagram also showcases her oil paintings and animations. According to her website, descending from a long line of immigrants inspired her distinctive loose and melancholy style.
Studio Heartbreak / @studioheartbreak
As the handle suggests, this account belongs not to a single artist but an entire studio! Studio Heartbreak’s upcoming short film, “The Lovers,” is both a psychological thriller and a WLW romance between a seafood chef and a mermaid. Set in a fantasy version of Manila and featuring a Filipino protagonist, it will surely appeal to fans of vibrant animation and the enemies-to-lovers trope. To bring this tale to life, the studio employs several Asian animators and voice actors, many of whose personal accounts are listed in older posts.
Heleena Mistry / @heleenatattoos
Heleena Mistry’s intricate tattoo designs incorporate traditional, timeless Indian motifs while also including a variety of genders and body types. Mistry has been vocal in her advocacy for the inclusion of all skin tones in the tattoo world. For those without the desire to get inked (or who live outside the UK), her muted, elegant prints — also posted to her account — would enhance anyone’s blank wall.
Ireen Chau / @beanireen18
The author of two illustrated fantasy novels, “The Herbwitch’s Apprentice” and “The Herbwitch Princess,” Ireen Chau has woven a world at once historical and fantastical. To dip your toes into it, simply follow this account, where you can find her dreamy illustrations for her novels along with unrelated but equally romantic drawings and sketches. For fans of the 2000s “Barbie” movies, Chau’s work is sure to please.
Jhak: Amigurumi Engineer / @sundotattack
For those seeking three-dimensional mediums, amigurumi is the art of crocheting toy animals. On Jhak’s account, you can browse through an endless array of adorable amigurumi puppies, pandas, and even Kaonashi from “Spirited Away”!
Yuko Gunji / @gunjiyuko.kintsugi
Kintsugi is the traditional Japanese art of fixing broken ceramics using urushi, or lacquer. Yuko Gunji’s Instagram features photographs of her repaired pots, cups, and dishes, all lined with golden seams bearing the memory of their fractures. Gunji’s website describes her view of kintsugi as a process that embraces damage and imperfection while elevating once-broken pottery to a more refined state.
Grace / @gracingyouwithart
If your wardrobe is in need of some new accessories, Grace’s handmade clay earrings may add the perfect touch. Resembling miniature paintings, they often feature ethereal landscapes and beautiful floral designs. Grace also posts Instagram Reels revealing her earring-making process and photographs of her colorful pastel watercolors.
Jade / @jaded.draws
With original drawings and fanart of popular fantasy novels, Jade’s account is full of detailed portraits and hand studies, all in her lush, colorful style. Many of her captions include enlightening information about underrepresented cultures. At the same time, her Instagram Stories often contain facts about Indo-Caribbean history and culture — or an honest review of whatever book she’s currently reading.
Trung Lê Capecchi-Nguyễn / @trungles
Trung Lê Capecchi-Nguyễn is perhaps best known for writing and illustrating “The Magic Fish,” a semi-autobiographical graphic novel about a gay, second-generation Vietnamese American boy who connects with his mother through fairy tales. If you haven’t read it yet, consider diving into a copy this summer! His Instagram account is equally magical and heartfelt, containing a mix of flowing linework and short, chibi-esque comics about his life.
Cover Credit: Eyestetix Studio/ Unsplash
