About Yuko Nii

Since her graduation with MFA from Pratt Institute in 1969, she has pursued an outstanding career as a fine artist (painter) and also as a graphic designer, a fashion designer, a performer and also a writer. She also took interest in the architecture, design and construction fields. From her early 30 years of age, while still pursuing her painting career and a part time art teacher at a private high school in upper Eastside Manhattan, she looked for old run down buildings, buying them for reasonable prices, and renovated them with her own designs and her own labor changing them into super functional buildings as residences for artists. She did this in Brooklyn, Long Island, and Upstate New York. The most recent site for these artist-in-residence buildings was Williamsburg Brooklyn, which, at the time she bought them in mid 1980’s, was a ghetto with high crime rates and violence. By working with local community members and officials as well as the local police precinct, the area slowly began to be much safer. Eventually Yuko bought the national and city landmark Kings County Savings Bank Building in this distressed area in late1996 and founded the not for profit, multipurpose art center, WAH Center (Williamsburg Art & Historical Center). After that, the transformation of the neighborhood increased rapidly with more artists moving in practically every day.

 

The WAH Center’s mission is based upon her "Bridge Concept", the idea of which is to “…coalesce diverse artistic communities and create a global bridge with emerging and established artists of all disciplines.”

 

The WAH Center was started and continues even today to be as an all volunteer organization and more recently with several inters from colleges. Many of those artist volunteers have stayed to help the WAH Center for 14 and 15 years of that 16 year existence. They have stayed because of their strong faith in Yuko’s charismatic inspiring leadership. Seeing her hard working and sincere dedication for this great ideal inspired them to help.

 

Since the WAH Center opened in late 1996, there have been over 250 fine art shows involving more than 3,500 artists. There have been countless performances of dance, music and theater, lectures, and symposiums. Numerous articles have been written about Yuko and the WAH Center in local, national and international magazines and newspapers, and it has also been covered on television and radio.

 

Chris Gray of the New York Times said, in October 2000, that the WAH Center“…has pursued a furious schedule, with symposiums, chamber music concerts, art exhibitions, juried shows, poetry series, dance festivals and related presentations.” 

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High-ranking government officials took note of the changes in the area and credited Yuko:

In 2001, Governor George Pataki named Nii one of New York State's "women of the year" and called her a “Woman of Excellence with Vision and Courage.” He also congratulated Nii on turning the historic Kings County Savings Bank into a multipurpose art center that serves the needs of artists and art aficionados of diverse backgrounds.

 

In 2003, Borough President Marty Markowitz gave Nii the Betty Smith Arts Award for her outstanding achievements and contributions to the arts in Brooklyn. And also City Councilwoman Tracy Boyland gave her the Outstanding Citizen award.

 

In 2008, during Asian Heritage Month in May Borough President Marty Markowitz named Nii as one of the six Asians who provide “dynamic leadership and demonstrate outstanding commitment to the betterment of our community and the Borough of Brooklyn,” and gave her the Asian Cultural Award along with 5 other outstanding Asian leaders. 

 

February 16, 2009, then New York State Governor David Paterson named Nii one of New York States’ “Women of the Year” and awarded her for “being an influential role model who made historical contributions to the growth and the strength of the nation.” (No photo attached).

 

March 7, 2009, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg presented Nii a proclamation on the occasion of her “Women Forward” art exhibit, recognizing “the invaluable contributions of women artists by broadening women’s opportunities in the arts and creating new possibilities.” (No photo attached)

 

June 19, 2011, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz presented “Proclamation” congratulating Nii on the success of the important fundraising event, “Artists Rescue Team for Japan” for the victims of Earthquakes, Tsunami and Fukushima’ nuclear plant in Japan on March 11 and thanking for allowing all to enjoy the vast richness of the arts community and raise a culturally-aware family.

 

October 27, 2012, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz congratulated Yuko Nii on “The 16th !Anniversary Grand Harvest Celebration,” The WAH’s local, national and international programs have inspired, educated and entertained the public at large, and have demonstrated how a single organization can play a transformative role. It is due to the many outstanding organizations such as the WAH Center that Brooklyn now stands as the cultural capital of the nation.

 

March 21, 2013, Pratt Institute President Thomas F. Schutte and the Office of Alumni Relations awarded Nii Pratt Institute’s 2013 Alumni Achievement Award, specifically the “Community Commitment 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 or international level.”

 

Nii is listed in Marquis Who’s Who in America – 60th Edition 2006, in Marquis Who’s Who of American Women – 26th Edition 2007, Marquis Who’s Who in the World – 24th Edition 2007