Tyrus (Gaing Yoo) Wong

WONG Tyrus

 

Tyrus (Gaing Yoo) WONG

1920 from Toisan, China

Entering as a paper son, nine-year-old Tyrus was separated from his father during interrogation on Angel Island. To comfort him, a guard gave him gum to pass the time. Tyrus was taken to Los Angeles where his love of art was encouraged. Hired by Walt Disney in 1938, his artistic style inspired Bambi’s visual look.

(Portrait by Jacob Polley, SFSU 2017)