Professor Bing Huang recognized by governor, state Senate for promoting Asian history and culture
Bing Huang, Ph.D., associate professor of art history, was the keynote speaker at a ceremony at the Rhode Island State House celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May.
Along with others in the Rhode Island higher education community, Huang was recognized for her publication and exhibition to promote AANHPI history and culture. She received a certificate of special recognition from Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee and a citation from the Rhode Island Senate honoring her accomplishments.
The invitation by state senators Linda Ujifusa, a third-generation Japanese American, and Victoria Gu, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, to be the ceremony’s keynote speaker gave Huang the opportunity to showcase “The Celestial City: Newport and China.” She served as collaborator and Chinese art scholar for the six-month exhibition, which was held at Newport’s Rosecliff Mansion.
Huang explained that during the 18th century, China was known to Westerners as the Celestial Empire. In the Gilded Age, Americans saw Newport in similar light and referred to it as “Celestial Newport” due to its beautiful setting.
The Newport exhibit, which drew 70,000 visitors from September 2023 to February 2024, displayed more than 100 curated works of art, including contributions from Huang that spanned various media — paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs, fashion, and ceramics.
Huang’s presentation at the State House and at the exhibit’s opening ceremony included insights and images from the exhibit that celebrate the close ties between Newport and China. The stories woven through the artifacts highlighted the contributions of Chinese individuals across multiple facets of Newport life, including those of artists, merchants, and women suffragists.
“The strong attendance at the exhibit underscores the broad appeal and cultural relevance these discussions have today,” Huang said.
Huang joined the PC faculty in 2017 after receiving a Ph.D. from Harvard University. She was honored with PC’s Innovation in Teaching Award in 2018. Her research interests include cultural and artistic exchanges between China and the West and the intersection of art and technology, which include virtual reality and AI (artificial intelligence) generative art.
“It was an honor to represent Providence College and the AANHPI community at these two very prestigious events,” Huang said.
Watch Dr. Huang at the State House
