Biography of Yuko Nii | YNF Collections

Yuko Nii’ Bio 10.9.2018

Yuko Nii from Tokyo Japan, an artist, writer, philosopher and philanthropist attended from 1961 to 1963 at Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan ), studied English American Literature. She transferred to Macalester College, St. Paul, MN majored in Fine Arts, received a BFA in 1965 and a MFA from Pratt Institute Graduate School, Brooklyn, NY in 1968.

Her artwork has been shown at numerous museums, art galleries and universities in USA and Japan, including The Berkshire Museum, MA, The Brooklyn Museum, The Bronx Museum, The Hudson River Museum, The Parish Museum, The Guild Hall, Monique Knowlton Gallery, Haber Theodor Gallery, Vered International Gallery Elaine Benson Gallery, The World Trade Center, Lincoln Center, The United Nations General Assembly Building (all in NY), International Monetary Fund, Wash. D.C., Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ, Ohio State University Gallery, OH, Ginza Kaiga-kan, Tokyo, Japan, etc.

Nii was invited to Yaddo Artists Residence twice in 1980 and 1982.

In 1996 Yuko Nii purchased a French Second Empire masterpiece built in 1867, a New York City Landmark Kings County Savings Bank, and also on the National Register of Historic Places, and founded the non-profit The WAH Center (Williamsburg Art & Historical Center) based upon her Bridge Concept. That concept envisions a multifaceted, multicultural art center whose mission is to coalesce the diverse artistic community, and create a global bridge between local, national and international artists, emerging, mid-career and established artists, and artists of all disciplines. Thus through the international language of art we come to understand each other to create a more peaceful and integrated world. The WAH Center is a force for peace and understanding and its concept is incorporated in its acronym: “WAH“ in Japanese means “peace“ or “harmony“ or “unity“.

In 2008 Yuko Nii also founded the not for profit YNF (Yuko Nii Foundation). While the WAH Center’s mission is purely to “present” art programs to the public, the mission of the Yuko Nii Foundation is to hold, maintain and preserve the contemporary and traditional art, artifacts and properties, including the landmark building, which Yuko donated to the foundation. The YNF also loans the art and artifacts in its permanent collection to other institutions such as museums or galleries or art institutions for their special exhibitions.

Yuko Nii has received several awards from official dignitaries and her undergraduate and graduate schools' presidents, including:

1) 1998: Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden awarded Yuko “The Woman of the Year“

2) 2001: New York State Governor George Pataki awarded Yuko “A Woman of Excellent Vision and Courage“

3) 2003 Borough President Marty Markowitz “A Betty Smith Art Award“

4) 2003: City Councilwoman Tracy Boyland awarded Yuko “The Outstanding Citizen Award“

5) 2008: Borough President Marty Markowitz awarded Yuko “The Asian Cultural Award“

6) 2009: New York State Governor David Paterson named Nii as “One of New York States’ Woman of the Year for being an influential role model who made historical contributions to the growth and strength of the nation“

7) 2013: Pratt Institute President Dr. Thomas F. Schutte and the Office of Alumni Relations awarded Nii “Pratt Institute’s 2013 Alumni Achievement Award“ as one of the Pratt Institute’s outstanding graduates who have “distinguished themselves in their fields, having earned a high degree of respect among their colleagues and the general community, and whose impact has been felt on a regional, national and international level“

8) 2016: Macalester College President Dr. Brian Rosenberg honored Yuko Nii with “The Distinguished Citizen Award” recognizing alumni who have exercised leadership in civic, social, religious, and professional activities

Nii is listed in Marquis “Who’s Who in America“, Who’s Who of American Woman“, “Who’s Who in the World.“