ARTIST STATEMENT
My work explores the intersection of emotion, intuition, and structured detail, creating a dialogue between abstract expression and cognitive resonance. The process begins intuitively, with shapes, colors, and forms emerging from my subconscious and personal experiences. These elements—infused with energy from movement, performance, and the natural world—are shaped by my fascination with the unseen forces that drive our lives. Through the lens of science, I delve into the invisible structures of existence, interpreting them through abstract and symbolic expressions.
Each piece invites the viewer to reflect on their own perceptions and experiences, evoking connections through luminosity, texture, and form. My approach combines spontaneity and deliberate refinement, allowing space for emotional expression while paying careful attention to the details that enhance depth and meaning. With a background in engineering, I blend analytical thought with creative freedom, aiming to create art that stimulates not only the mind but the emotions as well.
Ultimately, I hope my work fosters a sense of connection and wonder, encouraging the viewer to engage in a shared experience of exploration, reflection, and celebration of the complexities and beauty of life.
BIOGRAPHY
May Sun is a Boston-based painter whose work bridges the precision of science with the fluidity of emotional and spiritual expression. Originally from an environment where art was not traditionally encouraged, May’s journey from chemical engineering to full-time artistry reflects her unwavering passion for creativity. After emigrating to the United States to earn a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, she settled in Cambridge, MA, where her love for art flourished.
May’s artistic development was shaped by extensive training, including classes at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), graduate school, local art organizations, and online programs. From 2012 to 2022, she served as a docent at the MFA, deepening her engagement with art history and community education. Now a full-time artist, May creates in her studio at 450 Harrison Ave., Studio 413, in Boston’s vibrant SoWa Art and Design District. Her acrylic and mixed media paintings have been showcased in solo and juried group exhibitions, including representation at Gallery Kayafas in Boston. Her work is held in private collections and is a demonstration artwork at the MIT Museum Studio used in teaching at the intersection of visual art and vision neuroscience.
A recipient of the 2025 Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant for Creative Individuals and a signature member of the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA) since 2024, May continues to gain recognition for her innovative work. Her acceptance to the prestigious Château d'Orquevaux Artist Residency, France in 2026 marks a new chapter. May’s art invites viewers to transcend perceived boundaries, fostering a dialogue about our shared humanity through vibrant, evocative compositions.
RESUME
Solo Exhibitions
2023
Embracing Transcendence, Gallery Kayafas, Boston, MA
2022
Beginning, Tenacre Gallery (TAG), Wellesley, MA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025
Breakthrough, Juried by New York dealer and President, Hollis Taggart, U.S. Courthouse, Seaport, Boston, MA
Prestige 2025 Exhibition of the Signature Members of the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA), Leonovich Gallery, New York, NY
Seeing, Seeing …, MIT Museum Studio and Gallery Compton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
SINCERELY, [Your Name Here], Juried by Dell Marie Hamilton, Kathryn Schultz Gallery, Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA
SoWa Artists Guild Show, Boston City Hall Galleries, Boston, MA
pARTners, Gallery 1581, The Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis, Brookline, MA
The School Show, Concord Center for the Visual Art/Concord Art Association, Concord, MA
2024
Vision and Process: Art Inspired by Science, Mosesian Center for Arts, Watertown, MA
School of the Museum of Fine Arts Show, SMFA, Boston, MA
NAWA Signature Member Exhibition, National Art Club, Grand Gallery, New York, NY
Fresh, Juried by Directors of gallery, Gallery Twist, Lexington, MA
Art with Intention, Gallery Sitka South, Newport, RI
Time, United States Federal Courthouse, Seaport District, Boston, MA
Concord Art Association Member Show, Concord Center for the Visual Arts, Concord, MA
Prestige 2024 Exhibition of the Signature Members of National Association of Women Artists (NAWA), One Art Space, New York, NY
Experimental Group Show, Juried by Charles Fine Art Gallery Director, Charles Fine Art, Gloucester, MA
Rockport Art Association and Museum Member Group Show, RAA&M Gallery, Rockport, MA
2023
Vibrant Color of Spring 2023, Charles Fine Art Gallery, Gloucester, MA
Unexpected 21, Juried by RAA&M EG Group, RAA&M Gallery, Rockport, MA
Concord Art Association Member Show, Juried by Kelley Lehr, Concord Center for the Visual Arts, Concord, MA
2022
Winter Exhibition, Juried by Bromfield Gallery, Bromfield Gallery, SOWA, Boston, MA
Emerging Artists Exhibition, Juried by Theo Coulombe, Cambridge Art Association (CAA), The Speedway Gallery, Boston, MA
Forms of Resistance, Juried by Danielle Abrams, Cambridge College Gallery/CAA
Unexpected 19, Juried by RAA&M EG Group, RAA&M Gallery, Rockport, MA
Unexpected 16, Juried by RAA&M EG Group, Gane Deering Gallery, Gloucester, MA
Jack’s Flower, RAA&M EG Group Show, RAA&M Gallery, Rockport, MA
RAA&M Member Group Show, RAA&M Gallery, Rockport, MA
Group Art Show, Concord Art Association Gallery, Concord, MA
2021
Unexpected 15, EG Group Show, RAA&M Gallery, Rockport, MA
Small Works Show, Juried by CAA, The Speedway Gallery, Boston, MA
Print and Paper Show, Juried by CAA, The Speedway Gallery, Boston, MA
2019
Art Sale Show, MFA/Tufts School of Art Gallery, Boston, MA
2018
MFA Staff Group Show, Fenway Community Center Gallery, Boston, MA
Awards & Honors
2026 The Denis Diderot Grant, Château d’Orquevaux, Orquevaux, France
2025 Recipient Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant for Creative Individuals
2024 Signature Member, National Association of Women Artists (NAWA)
2022 Award for Emerging Artist, Juried Competition, Annual Emerging Artist Exhibit, Cambridge Art Association
Artist Residencies
2026 Château d’Orquevaux Art Residency, Orquevaux, France
2022 Invited Visiting Artist, Tenacre Country Day School, Wellesley, MA
Affiliations
Gallery Kayafas
Charles Fine Art
Gallery Twist
Gallery Sitka South
National Association of Women Artists (NAWA), Signature Member
Cambridge Art Association (CAA)
Rockport Art Association & Museum (RAA&M)
Concord Art Association
Professional Experience
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2012–2022)
Docent Guide for regular gallery tours
Led special tours for Art in Bloom events
Volunteered at the information desk, assisting visitors with gallery, artist, and artwork inquiries
Tenacre Country Day School, Wellesley (2022)
Visiting Artist: Gave a lecture and led an art class
Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge (2019–Present)
Exhibitions Committee member, Gallery sitting, volunteer work
Cambridge Art Market, Harvard Smith Center, Harvard Square (2022)
Engaged in community art activities and exhibited work for patrons
Education
Postdoctoral Research, Chemical Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Ph.D, Chemical Engineering , Oak Ridge National Laboratory - University of Tennessee
Focus on bioengineering research in renewable energy and biopharmaceutical industry.