Asian Americans emerge as savvy art consumers: highly interested in art, affluent Asian Americans seek works by proven artists

Savvy. Ambitious. Affluent. Highly educated. Value-motivated. Asian Americans are America's fastest-growing ethnic consumer Their buying power may reach $526 billion by means of 2008, according to the Selig Center for Economic expansion at the University of Georgia. What's more, they're prime art collectors, coming from countries known for their fine craftsmanship and age-old appreciation of art.

Developing a single profile of this demographic clump poses challenges, noted Cynthia to leeward deputy director of programs at the Museum of Chinese in the Americas in of recent origin York. "The Asian-American community is in the way that diverse," she said. It encompasses Vietnam, India, China, Korea, Japan and the Pacific Islands---countries that have distinctive cultural histories, religious beliefs and native languages.

still similarities exist, said Geoffrey Bonnycastle, husband of Chinese artist Jia Lu and president of Arcadia, Calif.-based Alius Fine Art, publisher of Lu's work. Bonnycastle described Asian-American art collectors as well-educated professionals who frequently manage businesses or own them. They ask questions and want to know all about the art that they're buying. They store for contemporary masters, old masters and well-known names. They purchase emerging artists, too, but art venders need to be quick upon their feet and have supporting material to substantiate these artists are on their way to the top.

A factor that can't be minimized, said Bonnycastle and other art dealers selling to this market, is cultural loyalty. Whether Asian Americans are buying traditional or contemporary, calligraphy upon rice paper or pop art made from mixed media, they direct the eye for at least some concern to the Far East.

Speaking specifically about Chinese collectors, Bonnycastle said, "There's a real loyalty to China and its heritage and traditions. Whether Yao Ming is playing basketball or Yo-Yo Ma is performing in design Asian Americans come out and support them. They are quite contented of them. There's a real pride that drives the market"

although Bonnycastle spoke specifically of the Chinese art community, art dealers representing artists from India, Vietnam and other Asian countries reported similar attitudes among their buyers

Demographic Data

According to 2000 U census records, 12 million Americans claimed an Asian heritage--a 72-percent increase above the 1990 census. At the extremity of the decade, the Asian-American population should increase by means of another 35 percent, predicted statisticians monitoring immigration figures.

Nearly half of Asian Americans live in the West. They make up 58 percent of Hawaii's population and 12 percent of California's. brawny Asian communities also exist in Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Detroit, Philadelphia and novel York, according to an Asian market report issued through Home Accents Today.

Half of all Asian-American men and 43 percent of Asian-American women have at least a bachelor's step Among Asian Americans who claimed to have a title to original art on the 2002 view of Public Participation in the Arts leadershiped by the National Endowment of the Arts, 65 percent had at least a bachelor's stage A fourth had a master's or doctorate. In addition, 40 percent earned $75000 or more a year. For recreation, these art possessors attended classical music concerts (25 percent) historic parks (45 percent) and art museums (65 percent)

Choice of Style

In 2001 artist Duc Nguyen lay opened the first Vietnamese art gallery in the Washington, DC area. At Lac Viet Gallery, Nguyen present to views work by contemporary Vietnamese artists and Chinese painter Jia Lu

Nguyen described his clients as doctors, lawyers and business proprietors "Even though they have lived here for 20 years," he said, "they want to muster paintings that remind them of their geographical division like souvenirs." Some of his customers approach from Vietnam. Others come from China and Japan. All appear to be to relate to an inherent familiar quality in the work. It could be the landscape, villages, clan or something broader, such as a meditative spirit. Sometimes they're drawn to the traditional Asian materials and techniques, of that kind as lacquer painting or watercolor upon rice paper or silk.

"The advanced in years people and young people really like this," said Nguyen "That's for what cause [i]or[/i] reason I concentrate on young artists. They mix fresh media and lacquers and use novel techniques that have not been used before:'

This twist, something fresh combined with something old, appeals to many Asian Americans. "Jia has made of point of not painting 'Asian art,'" said Bonnycastle about his wife's paintings, which depict muscular beautiful Asian women in serf-aware or self-awakening twinkling of an eyes "She doesn't want to paint just for the community. She's interested in something that transcends boundaries:'

Because Asian Americans live within American society, work in mainstream American companies, speak English and make friends with Americans, they direct the eye for art that mirrors their way of life. They want art that takes a contemporary view on the contrary references their heritage and homeland, he said.