As part of our inaugural festival, NYAAF presents its debut exhibition: What will people think? — a powerful showcase of work by emerging AAPI artists exploring perception, identity, visibility, and the weight of expectation.

Through various media, these AAPI artists reflect on the quiet tensions of diaspora life — the feeling of being seen through multiple lenses at once: by family, by community, by society. The exhibition invites you to step into these layered experiences and reconsider the ways perception can shape, limit, or liberate how we see ourselves and each other. The show opens with a private reception on May 22, followed by public viewing from May 23–25. Entry is a suggested donation of $15, and many works will be available for purchase. RSVP is highly recommended to guarantee viewing.