The Flushing Skyview Center has selected three Queens artists to have their digital artwork displayed on two jumbo screens in the interior and exterior of the shopping center.
The three winning artists — Chemin Hsiao, Yibel Mui and Annabelle Popa – are among a group of five artists selected by the center. The other two artists are Kevin Pineda from Brooklyn and Nehemiah from Manhattan.
Each artist created two pieces of artwork, one for the exterior ticker screen that is located at the front facade of the center and one for the interior screen placed by the main entrance. The five winners received $5,000 toward tuition or grant money to further their careers.
“We are excited for these local artists to bring a little color, culture and creativity to the shopping center through their unique and impressive artwork,” said Rishika Mahtani, regional marketing manager for ShopCore Properties, owners and managing entity for The Shops at Skyview. “Each of these artists brings many levels of talent and something special to their displays and we are proud to showcase their artwork to the community.”
Hsiao is a visual artist based in Queens and Brooklyn and is the recipient of the New York Grant & ArtSite Public Art Commissioning from Queens Council on the Arts. He has taken part in artist residencies in Canada, New York and Massachusetts with exhibited artwork at various venues and has completed several murals for the Queens community including Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Flushing.
Mui is a recent graduate of Maspeth High School and currently studies at CUNY John Jay and has been creating art and drawing since she was 4 years old. Creating different pieces of art is a personal hobby for her and she enjoys exploring other hidden talents through serving local programs and nonprofits.
Popa is a freelance illustrator and muralist currently living in the Hudson Valley. She grew up in Jackson Heights and has a BFA in illustration at Parsons School of Design.
Illustration is her main outlet, and she weaves personal mythologies together with local inspiration to reach undiscovered worlds. Her piece combines all the memories and nostalgia of growing up in the city to create a fantastical depiction of what the roof of the Shops at Skyview might look like.
Born and raised in Manhattan, Nehemiah has always enjoyed drawing and desires to pursue animating for television and film.
She currently works as a teacher animation assistant at Borough of Manhattan Community College and is the recent designer for the Brooklyn library card. Nehemiah values representation in the arts and engaging with her community.
A Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist, Pineda studied classical piano and music composition and worked as a self-taught music engineer and producer in Mexico.
His proficiency with sound led him to work in the film industry as a production sound mixer, sound designer and post production supervisor. Strongly influenced by literature and film in his youth, Pineda acquired a talent for photography and an interest in visual mediums.
The Shops at Skyview is a multi-level shopping destination located in Flushing, featuring a growing mix of national retailers and local favorites, including leading brands such as Target, Uniqlo, SkyFoods, Marshalls and locals like Gong Cha and Royal Beauty.
It’s accented by an abundance of signature events, family-centric experiences and much more. The shopping destination features a mix of premier national retail stores for women’s, men’s and children’s apparel, shoes, electronics, home furnishings, entertainment, cosmetics, groceries, among many other options.
For more information about The Shops at Skyview, visit theshopsatskyview.com or follow Skyview’s social media @theshopsatskyviewny.
