NORFOLK — After she raised her two kids and cared for her aging parents, Jenny Wong decided it was time to make her career as an artist a priority.
Now, she’s preparing for her first-ever solo exhibition, Creative Currents — a project Wong said encompasses years of her work.
“The exhibition will be a retrospective of this artistic journey,” she said.
Wong’s award-winning watercolor and ceramic pieces are set to be displayed at Ghent’s Gallery 21 for a month-long exhibit that has the potential to also benefit the community with a free kick-off event on Oct. 19 and partial proceeds of art sales going to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters.
“What could be more special than donating to a local hospital that saves and enriches the lives of so many children?” she said. “CHKD does such amazing work and I am grateful to be able to help and give back to the community.”
Spectators can expect to see unique hand-molded vases, mixed ceramic and acrylic pieces, but mostly watercolored landscapes which Wong said she’s been practicing for the past 10 years.
Born in Norfolk as a first-generation Chinese-American, Wong said her watercolor works showcase her distinctive style blending “Western techniques with Asian influences.”
Though her first solo exhibit comes later in her life, Wong has been working in the industry since her early teens as a model, and then graduated from Chowan University and Barton College with a degree in fine arts.
Once she decided to focus on her career, she took her first course in watercolor painting and studied under Louis Jones at Jones Art Gallery in Virginia Beach for three years.
Creative Currents will be featured at Gallery 21 until Nov. 16 but the free opening reception is on Oct. 19 when they’ll serve wine from Mermaid Winery and hors d’oeuvres on from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 115 W. 21st St.
Attendees can also enter into a raffle at the event to win Wong’s “Lucky Bamboo” piece.
Jim Todd, Gallery 21’s co-owner, said “[Wong’s] exhibition is a ‘don’t miss’ event and will be one of Gallery 21’s best shows — Please plan on joining us.”
