John Yao was born and raised in the Albany, NY area and spent much of his childhood and youth in the arts: drawing and painting as well as singing and playing piano and trumpet. A graduate of Colgate University (BA, 2007) and the Crane School of Music (MM, 2011), he studied music and art, with special focus on music composition. As such, his approach to painting is shaped by a wider understanding of all the arts, including music, cinema, literature and poetry, as well as the old liberal arts quest for knowledge and to be the best well-rounded person one can be. Mr. Yao currently resides in Takoma Park, MD.

He would like to thank his family - Jim, Nancy, and James - for all their love and support growing up and encouraging his many artistic endeavors. And thanks also to his loving husband Hector for the same love and support these past few years and for many more.