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STORY

Born in New York City in 2014, Chapeau Echo millinery studio was founded by Echo Yu He, a gallerist, curator, millinery artist and writer based in New York. Echo works at Pace Gallery as Research Services Director and founded Fou Gallery, an art community committed to amplifying the voices of Asian diaspora artists through curated exhibitions, healing sessions, and community gatherings.

Since its inception, Echo has handcrafted over 350 one-of-a-kind hats—each individually designed, painted, and assembled by her. She paints her hats with traditional Chinese mineral pigments, often spending months sourcing rare materials and vintage jewelry from around the world. Every hat carries a unique narrative, becoming a wearable piece of art. To bring these stories to life, Echo presented them in exhibitions, and designed an immersive dance performance where movement, music, and visual art intertwine to guide audience through a healing journey. Chapeau Echo has been showcased in both the U.S. and China, with exhibitions at 808 Teahouse (Beijing, 2015), Mingbai Life (Chengdu, 2016), MIA Space (Beijing, 2016), Anren Ancient Town (Chengdu, 2018), 192 Elizabeth Street (New York, 2018), Pace Gallery (New York, 2019/2021), and Fou Gallery (2016/2021).

"Making hats is a way for me to dialogue with myself and connect with others. I love creating pieces for special occasions, seasons, or simply the season. Most of all, I enjoy crafting bespoke hats inspired by personal stories. Everyone has something unique to share, and a hat can become a vessel of memory—a bridge between people."                                                                                      - Echo He

Today, Chapeau Echo hats are cherished by collectors worldwide. The logo of Chapeau Echo is drawn by artist Zhang Xiaogang and designed by Japanese designer Mine Suda.

CREATOR

Echo Yu He is a multi-talented art professional based in New York and Tulum, with a proven track record in curatorial practices, research, and writing. She currently serves as Research Services Director at Pace Gallery. She was an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, where she teaches Arts Administration in Asia and Asian Contemporary Art Market. In 2013, Echo founded Fou Gallery, an art community committed to amplifying the voices of Asian diaspora artists through curated exhibitions, healing sessions, and community gatherings. Fou Gallery has garnered global media attention and is widely regarded as a notable and viable model for alternative exhibition spaces and a thriving ecology outside of mainstream gallery culture. In recognition of her dynamic and inspiring curatorial practices and expertise, Echo received the Yishu Award for Curating Contemporary Chinese Art (Shanghai, 2016), Certificate of special Congressional Recognition (New York, 2018), New York State Assembly Certificate of Merit (New York, 2020), AAPI Women's Gala 2024 Rising Stars nomination (New York, 2024). She was invited to speak at Columbia University (New York), New York University, SOAS University of London, Peking University (Beijing), NARS Foundation (New York), The Delaware Contemporary, Harvard Club of New York, Museum of Chinese in America (New York) and many other institutions. She is also actively involved in educational and philanthropic activities, serving on the Board of Trustees at An And Foundation (New York), being a member of the Young Patron Circle at Museum of Modern Art, and frequently loaning or donating art collections to museums. In addition to her curatorial and research work, she is also a prolific Art Writer and regularly contribute to a variety of art, cultural and lifestyle publications including The Art Newspaper (China), Art China, Condé Nast Traveler, Lens, Maire Claire, Tussle Magazine, World Heritage Geography, and among others. Besides that, she is also a milliner and has her own studio Chapeau Echo. Echo Yu He received B.A. and M.A. degrees in Business Administration from Peking University (Beijing, China) and an M.A. in Visual Arts Administration from New York University.