Yang Pulongbarit Cuevo is a papercut artist and nonprofit professional based in Chicago who began as a political cartoonist in the Philippines. Her work often draws inspiration from nature, anatomy, music, and folklore.
As an immigrant born and raised in an archipelago with rich cultural heritage contrasted by a history of political unrest, Cuevo also creates pieces informed by societal observations and emotional abstraction.
Her work has been shown in exhibitions in California, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, and Metro Manila, as well as publications including The Chicago Reader. The custom maps she offers at Paperhugger Studio also became an Etsy Design Awards Finalist in 2023.
In addition to her art practice, Cuevo worked as Managing Director for a Chicago nonprofit arts organization focused on printmaking until 2025 and has also co-curated local exhibitions. She is currently serving as a Board Member and Programming Chair for the Guild of American Papercutters. On weekends, she hosts a weekly show for 107.1FM, an independent radio station in North Center Chicago.
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