Sunny was born in Bangkok, Thailand, and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. Her work has spanned video, photography, multimedia installation, and photo books. Through these forms, she has reflected on storytelling, placemaking, cultural heritage, identity, and memory.

In recent work, she documented her mother’s collection of worldly fridge magnets in a self-published risograph book that debuted at Bangkok Art Book Fair 2020, titled Mom’s Magnets (2020). In 2021, she had 40+ photographic portraits of American artists and curators published in the book We Are Here: Visionaries of Color Transforming the Art World by Jasmin Hernandez (2021). Along with the portraits are her images of artist studios and artwork. Most recently, she exhibited a commissioned video installation, Wuthichai (Exit Interview), in SculptureCenter’s In Practice show, You may go, but this will bring you back (2021). In this piece, Sunny invites Thai-speaking actors to step into the role of her deceased father to improvise answers to her questions. The work was awarded the Queens Council on the Arts 2021 New Work Grant.

Asides from her visual art practice, Sunny is an arts administrator with experience working with leading arts non-profits including the Barnes Foundation, Art21, and Public Art Fund.

Sunny received a BFA from Ithaca College and an MA in arts administration from Columbia University.

She will be one of six residents for the 2022 Fire Island Artist Residency (July-August).


Contact sunnyleeras@gmail.com for artist CV or expanded photography portfolio including commercial and editorial work.