Lori Kay is a sculptor and mixed media artist. Her public art commissions and exhibitions include the cities of Fremont, Half Moon Bay, Mountain View, San Francisco, Bellevue and Seattle.
 
Kay received a B.A. in Art and Art History from the University of California at Santa Cruz with additional course work at the University of Geneva and Basel Gymnasium, Switzerland. She then spent a year in a foundry and a marble studio of Pietrasanta, Italy. After working on both large-scale and pedestal-sized pieces, her experience culminated with her first professional exhibit in Italy. 

Since 1987, Lori Kay’s work has been exhibited extensively on the local, national and international level. Although sculpture and bronze is her primary and preferred medium, she is well-versed in many mediums including: bronze casting, welded metal, ceramic, tile, painting, collage, stone, concrete and glass.

Kay does bronze casting and marble carving in the San Francisco Bay area and Manila, Philippines. Her studio has been at Hunter’s Point Shipyard, San Francisco, for more than twenty years.
 
Her awards and grants include the Peninsula Community Foundation, the Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, artist in residence with the Arts Council of San Mateo County, Silicon Valley Arts Council and California Arts Council.She has lectured at De Young Museum, Wing Luke Asian Museum, San Francisco State University, University of California at Santa Cruz and at Berkeley, University of San Francisco, Seattle Central College, Mission College, San Jose City College, and San Francisco Chinese Cultural Center.
 
Numerous books and articles have featured her works including most recently: Encyclopedia of Asian American Artists and War Babies, Love Child.
 
Currently she is creating a sculpture garden featuring her work and six local artists in more than 100 acres of estate that was once a former winery located in the Santa Cruz mountains.
 

Teaching

Lori Kay teaching children at the Recology artist-in-residence program

2016-2017 Art teacher, community artist volunteer, VA Hospitals, Menlo Park & Palo Alto, CA2010 – 2012 Hype Co – Founder and instructor sponsored by Santa Clara County Social Services, the California Connected by 25 Initiative and Santa Clara County’s Career Development Unit, MACLA Art Center, San Jose, CA

2004-2008 Assistant Director, Community Art Outreach Program, Children’s Shelter and Santa Clara County Family Resource Centers, San Jose, CA

2004 De Young Museum/Legion of Honor, Demonstration and Exhibition, Educaton Department of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

1998-2008 Artist-in-Residence / Art Instructor, Childrens Shelter, San Jose, CA

1997-2012 Art instructor, ArtConnect, Silicon Valley Arts Council .

1990-present Artist Lecturer or Panelist, University of San Francisco, San Francisco State University, Mission College, University of California at Santa Cruz, University of California at Berkeley, Seattle Central Community College. California College of Arts & Crafts.

1990-1998 Art Instructor, Numerous institutions including Triton Museum, San Mateo County Arts Council, Palo Alto Cultural Center, Community School of Music and Art.

1987-1990 Assistant to Foundry Master, Fine Arts in Metal, San Jose, CA.

1986-1987 Apprentice, Fonderia Artistica Versiliese Studio, Pietrasanta, Italy.

Ceramic Quilt Tile ( Collaborative)

Students Ages 13 – 15
Artist in Residence: Lori KayThe Silicon Valley Children’s Fund ( SVCF) Kid’s First Art Education Program opens the door to self – expression and learning for under served youth, who are disconnected from the educational process. The Art Education program has provided more than twenty four thousand vulnerable children from Santa Clara County with the opportunity to develop fine art skills in the visual and performing arts since 1995. The SVCF Reflections exhibit at the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose is made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Lucile Packard Foundation and The Sharks Foundation. Panelist Participation includes :
 

War Babies

Hapa Identity and the Creative Arts, Asian Society, Chinese Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA
Racial Identity, University of San Francisco
Women in Sculpture, San Jose City College
Women Bronze Casters, Panelist, Women’s Caucus for the Arts Conference, Seattle, WA
Hapa Issues Forum & 8 th Asian Pacific Islander Conference, U.C. Berkeley
Issues Concerning Equity, National Women’s Caucus for the Arts, California College of Arts and Crafts.

Community Positions

2007-2010 Advisory Board Member, Asian American Women Artists Association

2006-present Executive Director and Founder of Lupin Lodge Cultural Center, Los Gatos, CA

2004 – 2008 Assistant Director – Community Outreach Program, Children’s Shelter and Santa Clara County Resource Center.