Mengwen Cao

Mengwen Cao is a Chinese-born, New York-based photographer, artist and educator. As a queer immigrant, they use care and tenderness to explore spaces between race, gender, and cultural identity. Their projects have been featured in publications like Aperture, The New York Times, NPR. They have participated in international exhibitions like Photoville, Jimei Arles, Lianzhou Foto Festival. Mengwen graduated from the New Media Narratives and Documentary Practice program at the International Center of Photography. They received NLGJA’s Excellence in Photojournalism Award in 2019. They were recognized by The Lit List in 2018, PDN 30 New and Emerging Photographers to Watch in 2019 and World Press Photo 6x6 Asia Talent in 2020.

Photo: Mary Kang