Art is an important part of the holistic education model that YCIS Shanghai provides for all of its international students. Starting in Kindergarten, and offered all the way through the IB programme, art classes evolve as students build critical creative and technical skills.

In addition to structured art classes, one particularly unique aspect of art at YCIS is the Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Programme. AIRs are professional artists on campus who help guide and inspire a range of student artwork projects, beautify the campus through art installations and murals, and are encouraged to develop their own personal art portfolios throughout the school year.

This year, YCIS Shanghai is excited to welcome an additional AIR, Ms Esther Chow, a Hong Kong artist, to the school’s Pudong campuses. With a degree in Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she has exhibited in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Prague. Primarily working from observation, she specialises in form and colours in nature, particularly floral imagery, a nice compliment to the pen and ink style of Mr Mark Montgomery, the AIR at YCIS Shanghai’s Puxi campuses. In addition to her many years of professional experience in the art industry, Ms Chow was also previously a part of the AIR team for YCIS Hong Kong before joining YCIS Shanghai.

Ms Chow will mainly provide artistic contributions for the Regency Park and Century Park Campuses, while Mr Montgomery will continue to act principally as the AIR for the Gubei and Hongqiao Campuses; however, throughout the school year, the two experienced AIRs will collaborate on school projects to help build artistic unity on all four campuses.

YCIS is thrilled to welcome Ms Chow on campus as an exciting new addition! It is certain that the students, staff, and the larger YCIS Shanghai community will all benefit from her unique artistic experience and background.

To learn more about the AIR Programme and other art initiatives at YCIS Shanghai, click here.