A HOUSE OF SMALL ALTARS

Solo Show at Edge Zones Gallery

Show curated by Sophie Bonet

A House of Small Altars is an exhibition about how care survives. Rooted in the lived experience of Chinese–Panamanian artist MaiYap, the exhibition considers the home as a living archive—formed through repetition, devotion, and the quiet labor of holding things together.

Across diasporic histories, the house becomes a place where culture is not taught, but practiced. Language, belief, and memory are carried through daily acts: cooking, offering, repairing, remembering. These gestures—often invisible—shape identity long before it can be named.

The installations function as small altars: not monuments, but intimate sites of mediation between the personal and the collective, the living and the ancestral. Through humble materials—spoons, hilo pabilo, incense, rice cups, beans, textiles, mooncakes—MaiYap honors the rituals that bind family, lineage, and belonging across time and migration.

Rather than asking viewers to observe differences, A House of Small Altars invites closeness. It asks for a slower encounter—one that recognizes in these objects a shared human need for nourishment, protection, devotion, and continuity.

Saturday February 7th, 2026- 6 to 9 PM
Edge Zones Gallery
3317 NW 7th Ave Cir, Miami, FL 33127
ON VIEW UNTIL March 21st, 2026

ECHOS OF THE LAND,

WHISPERS OF THE REEF

Solo Show at Biscayne National Park

It is my pleasure to invite you to attend a very special solo exhibit. Showcased are 21 paintings that I created from 2012 to 2020. Some I made for my daughter, who is a biologist and the person who opened my eyes to what is happening to our planet, and some were done during the pandemic. These paintings mark my entrance to the palette knife world and the inspiration to keep on working. Some say they are my best works!

Saturday June 21st, 2025 - 5 to 7pm
Biscayne National Park - Dante Fascell Visitor Center
9700 SW 328th Street, Sir Lancelot Jones Way, Homestead, Fl
ON VIEW UNTIL September 28th, 2025

EBB & FLOW

Exploring the Womanhood Continuum Curated by Sophie Bonet & Zee Lopez del Carmen

This exhibit brings together nine incredible artists delving into themes of memory, resilience, and identity. Witness powerful explorations of feminine strength, transformation, and the fluid nature of womanhood through diverse mediums.

On view at The Frank Gallery in Pembroke Pines from November 21st, 2024 to February 22th, 2025. Curated by Sophie Bonnet, The Frank's chief curator and Zee Lopez del Carmen.

IN THE ABSENCE OF BLOOD

In Situ Monumental Installation. Piece by piece she assembled over 1,000 flowers crafted from 32,000 sanitary napkins elements, transforming these everyday items into a monumental tribute to resilience and the journey through menopause. Each flower symbolizes the beauty and strength in this natural life transition, reclaiming the symbols of youth in a space that honors renewal and collective memory. This installation is a testament to the endurance and adaptability of women

GREEN SPACE MIAMI 2024 AWARDEE

"Unveiling Power: Examining Influence" Curated by Donnamarie Baptiste

I had the privilege of receiving one of the ten awards given by Green Space Miami to honor artistic excellence.

"The Gathering"

The rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans during the pandemic forced me to reflect on my identity as an Asian-Panamanian woman in the U.S. I questioned what defined my Chinese heritage—was it my appearance, the values I was raised with, or the traditions passed down through generations? One thing that stood out was the deep sense of belonging I felt during family dinners. Those meals, a blend of Chinese and Panamanian flavors, connected me to my roots. I vividly remember holding the unique "tong gang 湯羹" soup spoon, each bite linking me to both my heritage and my family. Shared meals have always held a special power to nurture relationships, offering more than sustenance—they bring connection and belonging. In today’s fast-paced world, where meals are often eaten alone, sharing food becomes a meaningful way to pause, engage, and strengthen our bonds with one another.

SOLO SHOW at Museo Municipal de Cartago, COSTA RICA

Curated by Irene Antillon

"Sustrato" presents seven abstract works on paper inspired by

Panama's exuberant nature as a plea to preserve our planet.

Show on view until June 16, 2024

Av. 3, Provincia de Cartago, Cartago, Costa Rica

SOLO SHOW at Museum of Contemporary Art of the America

The Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas is proud to present 'Eco-Aesthetics in Motion,' a captivating exhibition showcasing MaiYap's "Gratitude" series. This collection exemplifies her profound mastery of abstract painting intertwined with a deep commitment to environmental advocacy. The exhibition journey reveals a resonant fusion of culture, memory, and ecological consciousness. MaiYap’s artistic perspective was shaped by her upbringing in Panama, under the dual influences of her rich Chinese heritage and the vivid tropical environment.

Curated by Sophie Bonet

2th - 24th August | 2024

Great Article about my

REFLECTION ON AWAKENING Series

By Margherita Cole

Published at My Modern Met USA

December 26, 2022

BEAUTIFUL OIL PAINTINGS OF FLOATING LILY PADS

By Katy Cowan - Creative Boom UK, July 26th 2022

In her latest body of work, Chinese Panamanian artist MaiYap responds to racism against Asian Americans and the attacks many have suffered. Inspired by Chinese landscape art, her beautiful colorful pieces feature highly textured lily pads floating on top of the water in all shapes and sizes, painted in oils and using only palette knives.

PROGENIE - PANAMA

Curated by Reinier Rodríguez Ferguson

With much happiness I invite you to my first solo show in my native country. We have been planning this event for 5 years, which 2 of them are better forgotten. I will be exhibiting 26 works that represent my artistic journey. I hope you can accompany to celebrate the colors of Life!

On this occasion we have invited Manuel Chong Neto (rip) and Nicole Rumaldo Choy, to present 3 generations of Chinese Panamanian artists.

.

La emoción me embarga. Con mucho honor les invito a mi primer solo show en mi tierra natal. Llevamos planeándolo por más de 5 años, de los cuales dos es mejor pasarlos al olvido. Presentaré 26 obras que representan mi recorrido artístico. ¡Espero que me acompañes a conocer mi obra y así celebrar los colores de la vida!

En esta ocasión hemos invitado a Manuel Chong Neto (qepd) y Nicole Rumaldo Choy, presentado así 3 generaciones de artistas chinos panameños .

Pen Woman Magazine

Summer 2021 COVER

Very honored to be on the cover of the Pen Woman magazine Summer 2021.

Thanks to Lucy Arnold, Art Editor, for a beautiful article on page 8.

Biennale Wynwood 2020 - First Prize NLAPW Biennial 2020 - First Prize