Why He’s Interesting: Wong, a master graphic designer known as Wongface, weaves intricate details of Gundam action figures, Dragon Ball Z characters and more alongside interesting typeface in each work of art. His colorful and imaginative murals have popped up all over Northeast Ohio, from Madison Avenue’s futuristic public transportation mural to a sprawling Public Square collage in 2019. As the president of the Cleveland chapter of the AIGA Professional Association for Design, he also aims to offer a creative space for other young artists and Asian Americans.
Thin Lines: Wong’s background in graphic design and marketing is evident in all of his art. Each piece is carefully sculpted and layered with sleek lines and repetitive images that convey a larger picture. But it’s the linework Wong loves most. “In mastering the line, whether it’s calligraphy, drawing or drafting, you can do just so much. In simple elements, there’s really infinite possibilities.”
Kid At Heart: If you drop by Park to Shop or Li Wah in AsiaTown, you’ll catch Wong’s latest public art installation across the street. The bright blue box depicts a warrior surrounded by gems, lightning bolts and more as an homage to his childhood obsessions. He’s also working on installing a community library with graphic novels in the spring. “When my father would take business trips to Japan, he would always come back with these really cool Japanese toy robot model kits. While the models were cool, I was really in love with the box art.”
Life Is Strange: Lately, Wong has been embracing the idea of going with the flow. “Life is inherently full of changes, full of ups and downs, full of tragedies and blessings, failures and triumphs. It’s really a wild ride. There really is no normal and things are always in flux.”
Foot Loose: Wong’s best kept secret? He’s been a tango dancer for five years. “That allows me to decompress and take a step back from the artwork.”
Interesting Fact: Miniature video game references and even tiny illustrations of Wong are scattered throughout many of his murals.
