The Quan Gallery: Waikiki’s Hidden Gem
Acclaimed Maui Artist, Carolyn Quan, Moves to Honolulu-Waikiki to Bring Her Unique Creative Vision to Oahu’s Art Market
Hidden in the deep caverns of one of Waikiki’s boutique hotels is a brand new art gallery that features some of the art world’s most unique and innovative work.
Fine art photo collage artist, Carolyn Quan, continues to be celebrated on the island of Maui, where she also exhibits her work in The Quan Gallery on Front Street, in Lahaina, as well as in other venues across the island. Her visionary photo collages have been collected by art collectors worldwide from Germany to Japan to Australia, and is also held in the permanent art collection of The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction in Bloomington, Indiana. Her shows have taken her to the heart of New York City’s Chelsea art district to San Francisco, Los Angeles and other parts of the mainland. With a passion and desire to expand into other markets, Carolyn moved to Honolulu six months ago to focus her efforts on her second Hawaii gallery which is now opened in Waikiki.
“Maui is a mecca for fine art and that was and still is very exciting for me. Lahaina, especially is such a wonderful place to nurture a career in fine art, but I missed the creative energy that is unique to big cities. Having grown up in a large cosmopolitan city (Toronto), I desired to be in the mix with a larger and more “creative” art community where artists are more inclined to think outside of the box and push the envelope, whether in music, theatre, the visual arts or any other art form,” says Quan.
Carolyn Quan is third generation Chinese, born and raised in Toronto, Canada, and the daughter of a Hula Dancer mother and Graphic Designer father. She lived and worked in New York City for eleven years as an Art Director in the music and entertainment industries before moving to Maui eight years ago. She is the recipient of four gold records for her creative achievements in the music industry and has designed album covers for many celebrity recording artists including the Grateful Dead, Barry Manilow, Carly Simon, Aretha Franklin and Yes, to name just a few. Her clients also included entertainment companies such as PolyGram, TriStar, Warner Music, CBS Radio, Sony Music, and Black Entertainment Television, amongst many notable others.
The Quan Gallery in Waikiki officially opened this past October, with a soft-opening on September 11th. “September 11th had a huge impact in my development as an artist and was the catalyst that steered me down the path of fine art”, says Quan, “9-11 had a profound effect on my life emotionally, financially and spiritually”. Quan lived on Maui at the time, but still had many clients back in New York City that she was creating designs for. “The impact was devastating on so many levels. I had a client who perished on the 101st floor of the World Trade Center and a friend of mine escaped from the 70th floor. I used to live just 2 short blocks from the twin towers so the personal connections with people there, and the neighborhood, were close to my heart. My graphic design business was devastated and resulted in no work for me for more than a year. Phone call after phone call resulted in nothing. My clients ceased doing business both here in Hawaii and in New York, the two most economically affected parts of the country. So, I decided that if I couldn’t make a living at what I was trained to do, then I would just follow my heart and create my art. In a very strange way, if it weren’t for 9-11, I never would have found my true passion and calling in life,” says Quan.
Carolyn’s artwork is inspired by spirituality and the beauty that she finds in nature and humankind. Her photo collages are rich layers of her own original 35mm photographs which are digitally and creatively blended together resulting in a seamless symphony of images on the canvases that they are printed on. To truly appreciate the essence and quality of her artwork, one must visit the gallery in person. Carolyn’s studio is also located in the gallery, so visitors have the rare opportunity to meet Carolyn in person.
This wonderful art gallery may be a bit hard to find, but it’s certainly worth the effort for art lovers seeking something “unique and different”. It is located inside the lobby of the Aqua Waikiki Wave Hotel, 2299 Kuhio Avenue and is open from noon - 8pm every day or by appointment by calling Carolyn’s studio at (808) 667-4362.
Gallery Location and Information:
The Quan Gallery at the Aqua Waikiki Wave Hotel
2299 Kuhio Ave. (at Duke’s Lane)
Business Hours: Noon - 8 pm daily.
Gallery Phone: (808) 922 - 7826
Email: gallery@carolynquan.com
Website: www.carolynquan.com
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