[citation needed] As a child, Hong enjoyed drawing cartoon characters like Hello Kitty and Strawberry Shortcake.
[citation needed] She graduated from California State University, Long Beach, with a degree in general art.[when?
[citation needed] Hong's inspirations include "the abstract paintings of Helen Frankenthaler, Sonia Delaunay’s vivid use of colors and patterns, and Jackson Pollack’s drip and expressive techniques.
[6] In 2004 h er first solo show took place in New York at the Oliver Kamm/5BE Gallery, where she exhibited illustrations for her future children's book, Animus.
[3] She has since had solo shows at LaBasse Projects in Culver City, Jonathan Levine Gallery in New York, and three at Hashimoto Contemporary in San Francisco.