Kay Youse, a local award-winning artist, was born Gum-Ran Cha in China. Her family, fleeing the Chinese Communists, moved to Seoul, Korea. Driven south by the North Koreans in 1950, her family reached Taegu. After finishing school, Gum-Ran worked for the American Army where she met her American husband who brought her to the United States in 1956. She now resides with her husband of 55+ years in Boyertown, PA.
Kay was always interested in art and took classes at the Anvil Studio in Pottstown, Kutztown University, The Wayne Art Center and the Wyomissing Institute of Fine Arts.
Her Oriental style painting is simple and Gum-Ran says it keeps her connected to nature and her roots. Any of her originals that are transferred into prints are done so by a local retired printer and are limited to 120 prints. All of her creations include her name in Chinese characters.
Kay is a member of the Sumi-E Society of America, Berks Art Alliance, Berks Arts Council, Art Plus Gallery and Studio B and has shown her work in many exhibitions in eastern Pennsylvania, and nationally. In the last few years she has also had the opportunity to paint in Portugal, Spain, and Greece.
