Cardboard Artworks: Honoring Family and Chinese Traditions Through Creative Expression
“Homeward Bound”
For many individuals, cardboard is typically not given much consideration. After fulfilling its role, it’s usually sent for recycling. However, for artist Warren King, this common material is a medium for extraordinary sculptures of figures, frequently derived from his family heritage. The three-dimensional artworks showcase free-standing figures, busts, and relief sculptures, each narrating a unique tale.
“These pieces constitute a continuing series reflecting on how my family journeyed from China to the American Midwest,” King shares with My Modern Met. “Collectively, they examine how culture, mythology, traditions, and family narratives persist through migration—often in ways that are unexpected. In the process of creating them, I’ve become more aware of how deeply my parents’ and grandparents’ experiences have influenced me, even during times when I felt distanced from my heritage.”
Certain pieces are directly about his ancestors. In his sculpture named Homeward Bound, King portrays his grandmother, with a bag resting on her hip and a baby on her back, as she sets off on a new adventure that would ultimately lead her from China to the United States.
“Shortly after her wedding, her husband, an Air Force pilot, was assigned to a remote location,” King recounts. “Unable to endure the separation, she collected her belongings and her young son, embarking on foot through the war-ravaged land. It would mark the last time she would see her family.”
Other pieces meditate on King’s experiences growing up as a person of color in the predominantly white Midwestern U.S. within an immigrant family. “Mask Bearer,” he notes, “[is] inspired by my experiences participating in Chinese cultural events during my childhood in Wisconsin, this piece delves into the complex emotions it evoked—both pride and shame, a sense of belonging alongside feelings of alienation. It’s a contemplation of growing up in a diaspora, caught between connection and dislocation.”
Though his family history has been central to his work, King has recently launched a new series of sculptures that, while personal, deviate from prior themes. Tentatively titled Untitled, he’s reflecting on memories of raising his two sons. “[I’m] examining how fatherhood and my art practice are utterly intertwined—inseparable, truly.” More from King on this topic is anticipated soon.
Scroll down to discover more of King’s work, and mark your calendars for a brief documentary about him and his art coming in May. It’s part of the latest season of In the Making, produced by PBS’ American Masters.
Artist Warren King utilizes cardboard to craft remarkable sculptures of figures, often influenced by his family narrative.
“Homeward Bound”
“The Mask Bearer”
“The Mask Bearer”
The three-dimensional creations include free-standing figures, busts, and relief sculptures, each conveying a narrative.
“Mott Street Flute Player”
Some of his more recent works depict individuals he meets in New York’s Chinatown.
“Mulberry Street Fruit Seller”
“I’m captivated by the liveliness and density of this Chinese-American community—it contrasts significantly with the more sparse environment of my upbringing. By depicting specific individuals in distinct places and moments, I’m gradually uncovering what community genuinely signifies.”
“Mulberry Street Fish Monger”
“Canal Street Purse Vendor”
“Hester Street Vegetable Seller”
“Blocking the Elephant’s Eye”
“The Distance We’ve Traveled”
One of King’s newest works recalls memories of raising his two sons.
“Untitled”
“[I’m] examining how fatherhood and my artistic journey have been completely intertwined for me—inseparable, indeed.”
“Untitled”
Warren King: [Website](https://www.wrnking.com/) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/wrnking/)
My Modern Met authorized the use of photos by Warren King.
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