Tyrus Wong
Encyclopedia
Tyrus Wong is a Chinese-American painter, muralist, ceramicist, lithographer, designer and kite maker. As film production illustrator in the film industry, Wong has worked for Disney
and Warner Bros.
. Wong's most famous work was for the Disney animated classic, Bambi
.
, Guangdong
, China
. In 1920, when he was 9 years old, Wong and his father emigrated to the United States
, and never again came into contact with Wong's mother and sister. Although they initially relocated to Sacramento
, his father decided to move to Los Angeles
. While attending Benjamin Franklin Junior High in Pasadena
, his teachers noticed Wong's artistic ability and he received a summer scholarship at the Otis Art Institute. He was hooked and decided to leave junior high for a full time studentship
at Otis, where he graduated in 1930. Wong's father survived on a more modest income, and Wong worked as a janitor at this school. He walked for miles to attend classes. It paid off as Wong had a lucrative career as an artist in Hollywood.
He has done everything from working as a greeting card designer to Warner Bros. film production illustrator (1942–1968), from drawing set designs and storyboard for several movies to being a Disney inspirational sketch artist (1938–1941). It was his lush pastels that served as inspiration for Bambi
(1942) where he was the lead artist of the project.
Tyrus Wong left Disney studios shortly after finishing Bambi
, due to repercussions from the Disney animators' strike
. Later, he designed popular greeting cards, some of his Christmas cards selling over 1 million copies.
Some of his well known paintings include Self Portrait (late 1920s), Fire (1939), Reclining Nude (1940s), East (1984) and West (1984). He told an interviewer that he's a "lucky artist."
After retiring in 1968, Wong continued to create colorful kites (usually animals such as pandas, goldfish
, or centipede
) that he would fly on the Santa Monica Pier
on a Saturday to the delights of many.
(December 18, 2004 – October 17, 2004) in Los Angeles showcasing his work. According to the museum, "This exhibit showcased the works of Tyrus Wong, who at the age of 93, is one of the earliest and most influential Chinese American artists in the United States. In his long, pioneering career as a local artist, Wong is a seasoned painter, muralist, ceramicist, lithographer, designer, and kite maker. The exhibit also featured Wong’s imaginative kites, which he has been building and flying for the past 30 years. Drawn from public and private collections, several of the pieces chosen for this exhibition have not been shown publicly since the 1930s."
During 2001, Wong was given a Historymakers Award (arts) by the Chinese American Museum
and was inducted in the Disney Legends.
In 2007, Wong was one of three illustrators featured in “The Art of the Motion Picture Illustrator: William B. Major, Harold Michelson and Tyrus Wong,” an exhibit in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
's Grand Lobby Gallery in Beverly Hills.
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
and Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
. Wong's most famous work was for the Disney animated classic, Bambi
Bambi
Bambi is a 1942 American animated film directed by David Hand , produced by Walt Disney and based on the book Bambi, A Life in the Woods by Austrian author Felix Salten...
.
Early life
Wong was born in TaishanTaishan
Taishan is a coastal county-level city in Guangdong Province, China. The city is part of the Greater Taishan Region....
, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. In 1920, when he was 9 years old, Wong and his father emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and never again came into contact with Wong's mother and sister. Although they initially relocated to Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, his father decided to move to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. While attending Benjamin Franklin Junior High in Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, his teachers noticed Wong's artistic ability and he received a summer scholarship at the Otis Art Institute. He was hooked and decided to leave junior high for a full time studentship
Studentship
United StatesIn the US a studentship is similar to a scholarship but involves summer work on a research project. The amount paid to the recipient is normally tax-free, but the recipient is required to fulfill work requirements. Types of studentships vary among universities and countries....
at Otis, where he graduated in 1930. Wong's father survived on a more modest income, and Wong worked as a janitor at this school. He walked for miles to attend classes. It paid off as Wong had a lucrative career as an artist in Hollywood.
Career
Bambi
Bambi is a 1942 American animated film directed by David Hand , produced by Walt Disney and based on the book Bambi, A Life in the Woods by Austrian author Felix Salten...
(1942) where he was the lead artist of the project.
Tyrus Wong left Disney studios shortly after finishing Bambi
Bambi
Bambi is a 1942 American animated film directed by David Hand , produced by Walt Disney and based on the book Bambi, A Life in the Woods by Austrian author Felix Salten...
, due to repercussions from the Disney animators' strike
Disney animators' strike
The Disney animators' strike was a labor strike by the animators of Walt Disney Studios in 1941.-History:The 1930s led to a rise of labor unions in motion pictures as in other industries such as The Screen Actors Guild which was formed in 1933. Animators of Fleischer Studios went on strike in 1937...
. Later, he designed popular greeting cards, some of his Christmas cards selling over 1 million copies.
Some of his well known paintings include Self Portrait (late 1920s), Fire (1939), Reclining Nude (1940s), East (1984) and West (1984). He told an interviewer that he's a "lucky artist."
Personal life
He was married to Ruth Ng Kim Wong (黃伍梅珍). He considers his three daughters, Kay (born 1938), Tai-ling (born 1941), and Kim (born 1946) as his "greatest achievements." Wong lives in Sunland, California.After retiring in 1968, Wong continued to create colorful kites (usually animals such as pandas, goldfish
Goldfish
The goldfish is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It was one of the earliest fish to be domesticated, and is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish....
, or centipede
Centipede
Centipedes are arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda of the subphylum Myriapoda. They are elongated metameric animals with one pair of legs per body segment. Despite the name, centipedes can have a varying number of legs from under 20 to over 300. Centipedes have an odd number of pairs of...
) that he would fly on the Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier is a large double-jointed pier located at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California and is a prominent, 100-year-old landmark.-Pacific Park:...
on a Saturday to the delights of many.
Later life
"Tyrus Wong: A Retrospective" was an exhibit at the Chinese American MuseumChinese American Museum
The Chinese American Museum is a museum located in Downtown Los Angeles as a part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument. It is dedicated to the history and experience of Chinese Americans in the state of California, first such museum in Southern California...
(December 18, 2004 – October 17, 2004) in Los Angeles showcasing his work. According to the museum, "This exhibit showcased the works of Tyrus Wong, who at the age of 93, is one of the earliest and most influential Chinese American artists in the United States. In his long, pioneering career as a local artist, Wong is a seasoned painter, muralist, ceramicist, lithographer, designer, and kite maker. The exhibit also featured Wong’s imaginative kites, which he has been building and flying for the past 30 years. Drawn from public and private collections, several of the pieces chosen for this exhibition have not been shown publicly since the 1930s."
During 2001, Wong was given a Historymakers Award (arts) by the Chinese American Museum
Chinese American Museum
The Chinese American Museum is a museum located in Downtown Los Angeles as a part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument. It is dedicated to the history and experience of Chinese Americans in the state of California, first such museum in Southern California...
and was inducted in the Disney Legends.
In 2007, Wong was one of three illustrators featured in “The Art of the Motion Picture Illustrator: William B. Major, Harold Michelson and Tyrus Wong,” an exhibit in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
's Grand Lobby Gallery in Beverly Hills.