10 Asian Americans Killing it in the Arts Right Now!
Written by Kimberly Saenz | February 24, 2026
Graphic by Kara Noun
1. Alysa Liu
Alysa Liu is the 20 year-old Olympian figure skater that has been captivating the world during the 2026 Winter Olympics. She was awarded Champion of both the Women’s singles and the team event, winning her two Gold Medals. Videos of her performances and interviews are trending globally as people are enthralled by her fluid rhythm and alternative style. Liu has previously championed the Olympic figure skating competitions, as she has been a practicing skater since childhood. She was born in California and her father, who is a Chinese dissident, introduced her to ice skating when she was five years old.
2. Chloé Zhao
Chloé Zhao is a Chinese filmmaker and director who resides in California and is known for both independent and mainstream films. She is the director of “Hamnet”, a 2025 fictionalize period-piece adapted from Maggie O’Farrells novel of the same name. “Hamnet”, recently won two awards at the British Academy Film Awards and another at The People’s Choice awards for its direction and screenplay, amongst other highlights. It was selected as one of the best films of 2025 by the American Film Institute and nominated for several other accolades.
3. EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami
“KPop Demon Hunters” broke records as one of the most watched films of 2025, winning awards not only for its animation, but for its soundtrack. Did you know that the three lead female characters that make up Huntr/x had notable singers work on the vocals and soundtrack?
EJAE, who voices Rumi, is credited with co-writing the soundtrack, but her history in music production and song writing predates “KPop Demon Hunters”; EJAE is a singer who has worked with numerous KPop groups. Audrey Nuna, who voices Mira, and Rei Ami, who voices Zoey, are both notable singers/rappers who have collaborated with many musicians and sang TikTok hits.
4. Mina Le
Mina Le, known by the moniker @gremlita, is a Vietnamese American content creator based in LA. Le’s digital database includes Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Substack. She made a name for herself in the fashion and influencing world, but eventually pivoted to video essays, reviews, writing, and acting. She is recognized for her eclectic vintage style and in-depth analyses of movies, fashion, culture, and their intersectionalities.
5. Ocean Vuong
Ocean Vuong is a Vietnamese American poet, essayist, professor, and photographer. His oeuvre travers' intimate childhood trauma and examines the effects of the diaspora on a personal, cultural, political, and social scale. His was awarded the T.S. Eliot Prize for his debut poetry book, “Nightsky with Exit Wounds”, and his poetry and fiction novels continue to win accolades for asking the reader to bear witness.
6. Ripped to Shreds | Andrew Lee
Andrew Lee is the frontman of American death metal band Ripped to Shreds. Lee formed the band to challenge the eurocentricity and white supremacy associated with the heavy metal scene. Their music is informed by their cultural and social experiences as Asian Americans, implementing lyrics and themes pulled from Chinese folklore, history, and customs that combat racist and imperialist rhetoric. Provided is a link to Lee’s YouTube channel, where he analyzes and resists the perpetuity of white supremacy in heavy metal.
7. Yeha Leung
Yeha Leung, also known as @creepyyeha, is a designer based in Brooklyn, NY. She is the founder of Creepyyeha, a brand of custom-made and made-to-measure lingerie and leather accessories and jewelry, such as chokers and harnesses. She has created pieces for known artists like FKA Twigs, Rihanna, and more. Her niche bondage-inspired accessories can be seen as a reclamation of sexual liberation and bodily/creative autonomy, but Leung does not intend to be limited by the label of BDSM or bondage wear. She models her own work and expresses that she wants everyone to feel confident in her garments.
8. Eyedress
Eyedress is a Filipino electronic musician and singer known for his synthy beats and raspy vocals, a staple of the time when bedroom beats became popular. His mixtapes garnered attention from record labels in Manila, France, and the United States. He has collaborated with notable musicians of the post-rock, lofi electronic genre.
9. Kiera Won
Okay, so actually Kiera Won is a London-based artist, but her craft is not bound by her location! Won, or @kiera_tattoo on socials, is a tattoo artist, sketch and digital artist, as well as a comic and zine artist. Her artwork can be traced to bookstores, comic stores, her personal shop, and even Casetify, with whom she recently collaborated. Her signature Toto Bunny and Necococat motifs, drawn in pastel color schemes with an 80s anime-style charm, have been tattooed permanently onto many people.
10. Vivian Le
Vivian Le, who can be found online as @nuwagraph, is a local artist to Chicago, where she has presented in local galleries. She earned a BFA in painting, but her mediums range from pencil sketches, paintings and murals to digital drawings executed in whimsical pastels and soft line-work. The subjects are often childlike figurines or dolls which highlight the lack of agency associated with adolescence and the social perceptions of children.
