+14158899031
chriscckao99@gmail.com

Hello! I’m Christine Kao. Born and raised in suburban Taiwan, I’m a visual storyteller and photo illustrator whose work highlights local histories, queer experiences and social movements.

In May 2025, I concluded a 32-month role as a part-time photo editor assistant at STAT News and began my master’s in Multimedia, Photography and Design, with a concentration in photography, at Syracuse University. I’m also excited to participate in the Eddie Adams Workshop this year.

I discovered photography’s memorializing power at 14, when rezoning uprooted part of my childhood home in Yuanlin, Taiwan — a legacy I continue to document as a long-term project in the TACET EYE workshop. My passion for photojournalism blossomed at UCLA’s Daily Bruin, where I worked as a photographer from 2019 to 2023. I combined this dive into reporting with bookmaking skills to create four photo books on cultural preservation and community building.

My goal with visual storytelling is to spread hope — capturing serene moments and decisive acts of resilience to accompany those who feel isolated and to inspire a more compassionate world.

Outside of my creative endeavors, I find the most joy in writing postcards, learning queer theory, volunteering at community events, talking to strangers and sharing ice cream with friends.

Selected Awards
2025 International Photography Awards — Jury Top 5
2024 Diversify Photo’s Photos of the Year — Selectee
2024 American Photographic Artists Awards — Third Place, Sports/Adventure
2024 California College Media Association Awards — Second Place, Best Magazine Photo Series
2023 Associated Collegiate Press Best of Show Awards — Fourth Place, News/Feature Photo
2023 Associated Collegiate Press Individual Awards — Second Place, Magazine Cover; Honorable mentions, Sports Game/Action Photo; Honorable mentions, Environmental Portrait
2022 California College Media Association Awards — First Place, Best Photo Illustration
2021 DMA Undergraduate Exhibition Awards — Winner

Published in
LA Times, STAT News, Nature Journal, TaiwanPlus News, Knock LA, LA Public Press, LA LGBT Center, EdSource, Fruitslice

Affiliations
AAJA, NPPA, NLGJA, Diversify Photo (Up Next Member)

Languages
English, Taiwanese, Mandarin

Press
UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, Central News Agency, China Times

Education
UCLA B.A. in Design Media Arts, Chancellor’s Marshal of the Class of 2023
Syracuse University M.S. in Multimedia, Photography and Design, Class of 2026