Jefferson Liu / Baltimore
Emon Surakitkoson (b. 1985) is a Thai-born artist based in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. She immigrated to the United States in 2005 and, after a career in hospitality, began her professional painting practice in 2020. Her work reflects the complexities of cultural transition, exploring themes of belonging, resilience, and shared human connection.
Merging Eastern traditions with contemporary Western forms, Emon seamlessly brings both cultures into her paintings and sculptures. Deeply rooted in the crafts and visual language of her background, her practice transforms lived experience into a universal language of community and unity. Each brushstroke and form carries the history of her handmade tools—brushes she first created when she could not afford traditional materials, which have since become central to her process and identity as an artist.
Her clients include Kimpton Hotel, Marriott International, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Capital One, and American Express. She has collaborated with institutions such as Strathmore and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Beyond her studio, Emon mentors students and organizes events to support emerging artists in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. She also serves on the Advisory Board of Arts for Global Development, contributing her perspective as an artist and cultural connector to promote global understanding through the arts.