Sherry Tseng Hill emphasizes color and surface in her work, drawing inspiration from the natural world, her own migratory path, and the sociopolitical conditions of local communities. Originally trained as an architect, Tseng Hill dyes and manipulates materials, often repurposed everyday objects, then layers them in intricate compositions that invoke metaphoric concepts, such as erasure, loss, and the passage of time.

The two works on view at Wiess House, for amber waves of grain and from sea to shining sea, are part of a series inspired by a trip to Laredo, Texas to observe conditions along the US-Mexico border. Witnessing adaptations to the natural landscape of the Rio Grande River, where border agents have removed trees and modified the riverbank to make human passage more visible, and reflecting on the charged nature of personal objects, such as shoestrings in the context of migration, Tseng Hill was inspired to make these multilayered works on paper. The titles are excerpted from lyrics from the patriotic song, “America the Beautiful,” highlighting the discrepancy between idealized notions of life in the United States and the harsh reality of the migrant experience. Through color, texture, and form, Tseng Hill’s works inspire empathy and advocate for awareness of our shared humanity, regardless of nationality.

About the artist: Sherry Tseng Hill (b. 1957, Taiwan) received a Bachelor of Architecture (1982) and a BA in architecture and art history (1980) from Rice University. She completed the BLOCK Program at the Glassell School of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in 2023. Her work is in the collection of Houston Endowment and the City of Houston SW Police Department where she created a Public Art Commission. Tseng Hill’s work has been exhibited at various institutions in Houston, including the Glassell School of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Jung Center; Lawndale Art Center; Discovery Green, as well as at the San Antonio Art League and Museum. Tseng Hill lives and works in Houston.