Food as Art - Two amazing artists now showing at our APCC Gallery

The exhibits at Asia Pacific Cultural Center, 3513 East Portland Avenue, Tacoma  98404 (our temporary address) is open to the public from 9:00 AM to 5:00 pm. Please let the office know of your visit by calling 253-383-3900.

Moch Snyder​​

Arrived in America in the 1980s with her family as refugees—a journey that shaped her deep appreciation for life and gratitude for every step along the way. Today, she’s an award-winning photographer with a passion for people, food, and storytelling through the lens.

Her love for photography began in high school at Franklin Pierce in Tacoma, where an elective class introduced her to film cameras and the magic of the darkroom. After graduating in 2004, she attended Pacific Lutheran University, majoring in communication while continuing to nurture her creative spark behind the camera.

It was at PLU where she met the love of her life. The two married in 2008, launched a photography business, built a family, and never looked back. Though now living in Texas, Moch proudly still calls Washington home.

---

Tessa Tessin ​​

A self-taught Indonesian-American artist based in Tacoma, Washington. Her journey into painting began with a simple yet powerful desire—to feel close to her family.

Born in 1994 in a small rice-farming village in West Java, Indonesia, Tessa’s early life was shaped by complexity and change. Adopted at a young age by her aunt and uncle, she spent her childhood moving between the quiet of village life with her birth family and the bustle of city life with her adoptive parents. In the midst of this, creativity became her refuge—a way to stay connected to the people she loved.

Art runs in her blood. She inherited her craftsmanship from her woodworker father and found inspiration in her older brother, who introduced her to painting. What began with pencil and paper soon blossomed into an exploration of mediums, eventually leading her to a deep love for oil paints and the movement of water.

Tessa’s work channels the powerful, ever-shifting energy of the sea and reflects her vibrant cultural roots. Whether she’s painting waves or traditional foods, her art is an expression of identity, emotion, and connection—each piece a tribute to the family and heritage that shaped her.

Tessa Tessin’s Statement for “Comfort Foods” series:​​

​

When I was little, I spent hours and hours drawing the same scene. There was always a pond, some trees, and an overgrowth of flowers surrounding it. I was drawing my home and doodling it down on a piece of paper was my way of keeping it close to my heart. I found a lot of comfort in focusing my energy on these drawings, in the same way that my mom’s sop bayem “spinach soup” would comfort me when I’m sick. This series of paintings and photographs aim to express the contentment and familiarity that both art and food provide. Food is art and and it can be expressed in so many ways but nevertheless it is such an integral part of culture and identity.