The Chen Lok Lee Legacy Project is closing out 2023 with some very positive news. We are proud to announce our recent significant gift to the Free Library of Philadelphia Print and Picture Collection within the Special Collections Department.
This week, our founder and curator, Romana Lee-Akiyama, met with the Free Library of Philadelphia curators and staff to deliver 10 of Chen’s prints. From here, the work will be cataloged, digitized, and made available for anyone who wants to view it.
The Print and Picture Collection at the Free Library of Philadelphia maintains works from renowned modern printmakers, with a special focus on Philadelphia artists. We are grateful to partner with the Free Library to include more diverse artists in their collection.
Chen’s work joins the Print and Picture Collection at an exciting time. ‘The Art and Influence of John Dowell‘ is the Special Collections’ latest exhibit at the Free Library’s Central Branch, and was the inspiration for Romana to consider the gift to the library. John Dowell and Chen were contemporaries of each other in the printmaking world in Philadelphia and the Tamarind Institute. Through conversations with library staff, Romana recognized the important role that public institutions — especially libraries — play in providing access and information to the arts for the general public. As funding continues to be restored to our public libraries, we are hopeful that this will mean more and more Philadelphians will be able to access to rich and free resources available to them — which now includes access to Chen’s work.
For more information or to make an appointment to see Chen’s prints at the Free Library of Philadelphia, individuals, classes and groups can make an appointment by emailing erefpix@freelibrary.org or by visiting their website.
