Sculptor Ming Fay, Known for Whimsical Garden-Inspired Art, Dies at 82
# Remembering Ming Fay: A Legacy of Artistic Botany
Ming Fay, a Shanghai-born artist and educator renowned for his organic sculptures and immersive installations, passed away at the age of 82 on February 23, 2024, in New York City. His death was announced by his son, Parker Fay, who has managed his studio for the past decade. Over a career spanning five decades, Fay deeply explored the intersection of nature, mythology, and human experience through art.
## **A Life Rooted in Art and Nature**
Born in Shanghai in 1943 to artist parents, Fay and his family relocated to Hong Kong during the rise of Mao Zedong’s regime. His mother introduced him to papier-mâché, a skill that later became one of his primary mediums. His early experiences in Hong Kong shaped his artistic vision, particularly the surreal sculptures at Tiger Balm Garden, which inspired many of his future installations.
At the age of 18, Fay moved to the United States to study at Columbus College of Art and Design, later transferring to the Kansas City Art Institute to focus on sculpture. He earned his Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara, before settling in New York City in 1973.
## **Nature and Mythology in His Work**
Fay’s artistic practice was deeply influenced by botany, mythology, and cultural symbolism. His sculptures often took the form of oversized fruits, seeds, and bones, blending realism with imagination to highlight humankind’s relationship with the natural world.
While living in Chinatown, he found inspiration in the local fruit markets. His sculptures reflected the cultural symbolism of various fruits in Chinese traditions—pears for prosperity, oranges for luck, and cherries for love—while also exploring their textures, colors, and forms. This attention to material and symbolism was a hallmark of Fay’s art, turning everyday observations into sculptures with profound meaning.
## **The Epoxy Art Group and Collective Influence**
In 1982, Fay co-founded the **Epoxy Art Group**, an artist collective dedicated to exploring the intersection of East Asian and American identities. The collective’s members staged exhibitions in both New York and Hong Kong, incorporating social and political commentary into their work. Notable projects included:
– **Erotica (1981):** A slide show projected onto a building in Manhattan.
– **36 Tactics (1987):** A visual exploration of military strategy and historical events in US-China relations.
The group became a crucial platform for Chinese American artists, and its influence continues today, with archived works housed at the **New Museum** and NYU’s **Asian/Pacific/American Institute**.
## **An Esteemed Educator and Mentor**
Beyond his personal artistic achievements, Fay was a dedicated teacher. He taught sculpture at institutions including **William Paterson University** and the **Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)** until his retirement in 2016. Many of his students paid tribute to him following his passing, describing him as a mentor who encouraged deep artistic exploration.
## **Public and Museum Collections**
Fay’s work is housed in major museum collections, including the:
– **Brooklyn Museum**
– **New Museum**
– **Taipei Fine Art Museum**
– **Hong Kong Museum of Art**
Additionally, his public artworks remain part of the American urban landscape. **”Shad Crossing, Delancey Orchard” (2004)**, a stunning mosaic of glass fish, decorates the Delancey-Essex Street subway station in Manhattan. His **“Leaf Gate” (1995)**, a bronze installation, adorns the entrance of PS7 in Queens.
## **A Lasting Influence**
This spring, Fay’s work will be showcased in **”Ming Fay: Edge of the Garden,”** a retrospective at Boston’s **Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum**, opening June 26, 2024. The exhibition will feature 100 of his sculptures, encapsulating his enduring vision of nature’s role in human life.
Ming Fay is survived by his son Parker Fay, his sister Mun Fay, and his partner Bian Hong. His legacy as an artist and educator continues to inspire, with his sculptures serving as lasting testaments to his fascination with the living world.
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