Andrew Thomas Huang

Andrew Thomas Huang
Born1983 or 1984 (age 41–42)[1]
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
OccupationsFilmmaker, artist
Websiteandrewthomashuang.com

Andrew Thomas Huang is a Chinese American visual artist and film director[2] known for his music videos for artists Björk,[3] FKA twigs and Atoms for Peace.[4] In 2019, Huang was nominated for a Grammy for his music video for FKA twigs, "Cellophane."[5] He is the grandson of the Chinese scholar and libertarian socialist activist Huang Wenshan.[6]

Early life

Huang grew up in a Christian household, which heavily influenced his vulnerability on open queer expression and self-identity.[7] He cites his religious upbringing as a motive for investigating spirituality in tandem with personal and sexual experiences.[7]

He first began drawing and creating puppets from a young age, which sparked his interest in the arts.[8]

He identifies as queer.[9]

Career

Huang graduated with a degree in Fine Art and Animation from the University of Southern California.[10]

In 2005, Huang's short film "Doll Face" gained hundreds of thousands of views of YouTube, launching his career.[11] Following the success of the video, Huang was invited to the Google Creator Summit.[11]

His films and videos have been commissioned by and exhibited at The Museum of Modern Art, NYC;[12] MoMA PS1;[13] The Sydney Opera House, Sydney;[14] The Pacific Asia Museum;[15] The Somerset House;[16] and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.[17]

Huang has collaborated with the Bjork many times after catching the artist's attention through "Solipsist", a video uploaded on Vimeo.[18] He collaborated with her to creatively direct her immersive VR exhibition Bjork Digital. This also catalyzed him to start working on music videos for various well known artists.[8]

With his strength in world-building, Huang continues his foray into narrative with his first feature film Tiger Girl which has received support from Sundance[19] and Film Independent.[20] His narrative short "Kiss of the Rabbit God"[21] premiered at Tribeca Film Festival 2019.[22] "Kiss of the Rabbit God" was also his first film that addressed his Asian and queer identity.[8]

In 2025, he began working "The Deer of Nine Colors", a Buddhist sci-fi film that is set to premiere at the Thailand Biennale[23].

Themes and Style

Huang mainly mixes puppetry, visual effects, and animation to achieve his film aesthetics.[24] For photography and exhibitions, he has used 3D to mock his prosthetics and brought them to life through sculpture.[25]

His work mainly touches upon themes of the Chinese-American and queer experience using inspiration from Asian mythology, animism, and futurism.[26] Weaving in fantastical elements, Huang frequently references Chinese deities and spiritual iconography in his art.[27]

Videography

Music videos

Short films

  • Doll Face (2005)[29]
  • Solipsist (2012)
  • Interstice (2016)
  • Flesh Nest (2017)
  • Kiss of the Rabbit God (2019)[30]
  • Lily Chan and The Doom Girls (2020)
  • Tiger Girl (2020)
  • The Deer of Nine Colors (2025)

Awards

  • Nominee at Annecy International Animated Film Festival for Doll Face (2006)
  • Winner of "Best SciFi Super Short Film" at Shriekfast (2009)
  • Winner of "Best Film - Super Short" at Shriekfast (2009)
  • Nominee for "Best Music Video" at Grammy's for "Cellophane" by FKA twigs (2020)

References

  1. ^ Williams, Megan (November 16, 2021). "Seven Ages Of A Creative: Andrew Thomas Huang". Creative Review.
  2. ^ "Director Andrew Thomas Huang Brings Us Back To Earth". freethework.com. January 23, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  3. ^ "Meet Andrew Thomas Huang, The Filmmaker Behind Björk's Stunning VR Videos". daily.redbullmusicacademy.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  4. ^ Jon (October 18, 2013). "Atoms For Peace's 'Before Your Very Eyes...'". Milk. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  5. ^ "Andrew Thomas Huang". GRAMMY.com. November 26, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  6. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Coleman, Madeline Leung (April 7, 2021). "Of fantasy and fever dreams, Andrew Thomas Huang pushes Asian American films into new territory". CNN. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c "ANDREW THOMAS HUANG: An Ethereal Mind". MAGAZINE. August 8, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  9. ^ Coleman, Madeline Leung (April 7, 2021). "Of fantasy and fever dreams, Andrew Thomas Huang pushes Asian American films into new territory". CNN.
  10. ^ "Andrew Huang | Roski School of Art and Design". roski.usc.edu. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Meet Andrew Thomas Huang, The Filmmaker Behind Björk's Stunning VR Videos". daily.redbullmusicacademy.com. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  12. ^ Armstrong, Annie (February 22, 2016). "Björk Takes You Behind the Scenes of 'Black Lake' [Exclusive]". Vice. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  13. ^ "Björk's Stonemilker by Andrew Thomas Huang". The Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  14. ^ "Decorating the Sydney Opera House with floral symbols of Australia". Sydney Opera House. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  15. ^ "Andrew Thomas Huang | 14 Exhibitions and Events | MutualArt". www.mutualart.com. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  16. ^ "Andrew Thomas Huang | 14 Exhibitions and Events | MutualArt". www.mutualart.com. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  17. ^ Byford, Sam (November 14, 2012). "Watch this: Björk's incredible new 'Mutual Core' video and its geological pyrotechnics". The Verge. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  18. ^ Hu |, Hongtao (July 11, 2025). "Worth the wait: Andrew Thomas Huang practices patience". The Rice Thresher. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  19. ^ "Sundance Institute Names 2020 January Screenwriters Lab FellowsWriter/Directors from China, South Africa, U.S. and U.K." www.sundance.org. December 17, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  20. ^ "Guest Post: Getting the Tools to Inspire Imagination and Melt Defenses". Film Independent. September 12, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  21. ^ "Andrew Thomas Huang's "Kiss of the Rabbit God" breathes erotic life in a Chinese Myth". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  22. ^ "Tribeca". Tribeca. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  23. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  24. ^ "Andrew Huang". Film Independent. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  25. ^ "Andrew Thomas Huang". Biennale of Sydney. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  26. ^ "About". ANDREW THOMAS HUANG. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  27. ^ "Object-Based Audio-Visual Services", Multimedia Systems and Applications, Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 25–49, ISBN 0-7923-7255-7, retrieved December 1, 2025
  28. ^ a b c d e f "Andrew Thomas Huang". andrewthomashuang.com.
  29. ^ Huang, Andrew (February 19, 2007). Doll Face. Youtube.
  30. ^ "Kiss of the Rabbit God - NOWNESS". June 28, 2019 – via Vimeo.