Dear Lisa,
Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this moment in your life. ​
The love you have for your father, Mr. Oscar Wade Simmons and your family,
was deeply felt throughout this process
and truly apparent in the details you chose to commemorate.
With your permission and trust, it is an honor that I share this art request here.
Kindly yours, ​Grace

 
​Dear Gabby and Justin,
To celebrate you and your wedding, your connections with friends, families, and faith, the process of creating this art request was guided by the love of our mutual friends, Sydney and Delilah. It was their love for you and their wish for me to create art for you that inspired me to envision not just one, but rather two side-by-side pieces, created simultaneously with all of you in mind. 

Sydney & Delilah, Gabby & Justin, Friends & Families
S & D art request, Gabby & Justin [wed September 2025]
Hashkiveinu, peace prayer - Left [1st of 2] & Right [2nd of 2] 

From the photographs of you that Sydney and Delilah shared with me
the proposal: Gabby holding the umbrella and Justin down on bended knee
the engagement: white dress, sunglasses, a dapper main squeeze
I began painting with a grounded belief in the significance of
a collective love for one another as friends, families, and yet-to-be friends
the kind of love that embraces and inspires growth
and I am grateful to know that you are in my life.
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this special moment.
My wish for continued good health, happiness, love and peace for each of you,
together for both of you, and for the ones you cherish dearly.
Kindly yours, Grace

​Thank you, Ms. Linda for trusting me to fulfill this uniquely wonderful art request. 

Earlier this summer, Ms. Linda introduced herself to me as Lisa's mother and asked if I could make art for her daughter -- to include ladybugs [Lisa's favorite] and "faith and hope" --  I remember feeling pure joy, the love between mother & daughter and accepted without hesitation. While speaking with Ms. Linda, we reflected on our mutual connecting person, Lisa and her remarkable presence in our lives, and I could not have imagined a more heartwarming full-circle moment.

** Lisa and I met a lifetime ago while working at the medical clinic, and over the years she has remained a shining light in my life. It is worth noting [as I believe many people in our community have come to know] that among her strengths, Lisa is compassionate and I am deeply grateful for her brilliance, kindness, and friendship **

A few weeks ago, during our in-person delivery of Ms. Linda's art request, Lisa shared with me the strength behind the Ladybug... faith & hope [A: 2 ladybugs].
In return, I shared my story behind the sister art piece [B: 4 ladybugs]... love is kind.
For each and both, in memory of Loves in our lives. 
For Linda and Lisa, I am thankful for you in my life.
With love and gratitude, Grace

I was previously and am presently enamored by photographs captured by others
so I am sharing here, a selection from our recent trip to France [July 25 - August 2, 2025]​
captured on my iPhone and Canon camera; and as otherwise noted, ​
photography by my sweet family or by one of our tour guides
[destinations: Paris, Lyon, Aix-en-Provence & regional tours, Marseille, and La Seyne-sur-Mer]

Playing With Daisies 
our daughter-mother painting...
created by  Kenzy J. Yang & Grace W. Ho
...and the joys of watching our children grow
​
Description
3 feet x 5 feet, mixed media [dried daisies, graphite, acrylics] on backer board
Community Art Project
commissioned by Clinton Main Street Program, Design Committee
[along with several pieces created by other artists for "ART Way" alleyway],
there are 2 access points to view all the paintings on display:
[1] via Connestee Street, and [2] via E. Main Street
located in Downtown Clinton, North Carolina
Theme
what grows in Sampson County

[view our process photos below]

This community project to create a public art mural at 321 Vance Street in Downtown Clinton began with site visits in October, 2024 and ended with our *final reveal* on May 6th, 2025

* collaboration * 
NCMA [North Carolina Museum of Art] AIM [Artist Innovation Mentorship] Program
Ashlee Moody, Program Manager
City of Clinton / Clinton Main Street Program -  Design Committee
Mary Rose, City Planner & Tyler Wise, Planning Specialist 
Michael Ray [Clinton High School art teacher] and artists
and all the details of installation by Jeremy Owens and
General Contractors, ​HN Carr, Inc. 

* thank you *
for asking, allowing, and trusting me to take this on as lead professional artist
-- group effort, hard work, lots of fun and generally good vibes --
Together, we learned so much about doing something BOLD, bigger, better, brighter... 
my love for this deeply impactful work of making public art, 
I hope everyone gets the chance to experience it. 
​
* absolutely, yes! * 
with heartfelt gratitude for each person who made this possible,
I'd be honored and more than happy to work with this "AIM + Clinton" team again. 
Grace W.  Ho