About

    Annie Dong was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, but spent her childhood in China, where her grandmother raised her. This upbringing shaped her experience of cultural dysphoria, both in daily life and in memory. A first-generation college student and the first in her family to graduate high school, Dong’s parents immigrated from Fuzhou, China. The transition from China to the U.S. profoundly impacted her identity. Witnessing the struggles and sacrifices that immigrants face in pursuit of the "American Dream" often contrasts sharply with the idealized version.

     Art became a crucial outlet during her early years in the U.S., helping her communicate while learning English. Struggling with feelings of displacement and cultural disorientation, she turned to drawing and painting to navigate these challenges. Art allowed her to bridge cultural gaps and process her internal struggles.

     Dong earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art and Psychology from New College of Florida in 2024. Her thesis on the impact of public art on the community earned Margaret L. Bates Award. Following graduation, she founded a mural business and gained recognition through grants and success in the Florida street art scene.

     Currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Painting at Cranbrook Academy of Art (expected 2027), Dong’s work explores her Chinese-American identity. Through traditional iconography and vibrant colors, she reflects on the idea of home, blending personal experience with public perception.