Asian Arts Initiative Welcomes Sonia Mak as New Executive Director

September 5, 2025 | Philadelphia, PA — Asian Arts Initiative is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sonia Mak as its new Executive Director. With nearly three decades of experience as a curator, fundraiser, and community builder, Sonia brings a distinguished career dedicated to uplifting artists of color and creating exhibitions that center the voices and experiences of the AAPI community in the Greater Los Angeles area. Sonia was the Founding Assistant Curator of the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles, Co-Founder of Art Salon Chinatown, and was named National Endowment of the Humanities Summer Institute Fellow. She has also led development teams and taken curatorial roles at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Craft Contemporary, the Vincent Price Art Museum Foundation, Morono Kiang Gallery, and ICA Los Angeles. Reflecting on her new role, Sonia shared:

“Asian Arts Initiative and I share the same mission, located at the incredibly fertile yet often overlooked intersection of the arts, activism, and the AAPI community. I am humbled and privileged to serve this kindred mission by stepping into the leadership role of Executive Director at AAI. I am excited to lead AAI into the future and join Philadelphia’s vibrant art community as a change agent to advance the visibility and value of AAPI artists.”

With the guidance of search partner TSNE, AAI engaged its staff, community leaders, artists, producers, activists, students, and other communities to build a collective vision for AAI stewardship and search for the right person to realize those exciting expectations. Many candidates near and far were considered, all with clear passion for the work and some incredible ideas for the organization. Sonia presented us with a leadership approach that respects and honors the history of the organization, but also that challenges ideas of what’s possible in collaborative communities.

“Activating my community around the arts is both grounded in tradition and future-forward,” Sonia shares, “Artists across the national AAPI community inspire me to see myself, the world, and our collective future with more love, clarity, and hope. Don’t we all need that?”

Tuan Nguyen, AAI’s Board Chair, is equally excited, saying: “After an exhaustive search and interviewing many enthusiastic and well-qualified applicants, we are grateful and excited to announce our new Executive Director, Sonia Mak.” Dave Kyu, who serves as AAI’s Director of Programs and stepped in as Interim Executive Director, says: “Sonia’s approach to leadership and collaboration is an outstanding fit for an organization as rooted in community values as AAI. She will be an exceptional addition for the arts & culture landscape in Philadelphia.”

Sonia will officially begin her role on September 10th and transition to working in Philadelphia this November. She joins the organization at a time of unprecedented building activation & renovations, and ahead of the debut of new public spaces in 2026. As we wind down 2025 and enter the new year, we launch a new exhibition, continue our SOUND TYPE concert and writers series, advance the work for Chinatown preservation, and catalyze our programming vision for the future. Asian Arts Initiative looks forward to welcoming Sonia and to the next chapter of growth and community care under her leadership.