LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The U.S. Census Bureau documented Kentucky's Asian population at 47,000 in 2011. 

Fast forward to 2022, the agency documented more than 69,000. That's more than a 20,000-person jump. 

What You Need To Know

  • May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI)
  • Speed Art Museum and Asia Institute Crane House hosted an event to honor AAPI

  • Artists showed off talent and educated visitors

  • The U.S. Census Bureau shows Warren, Fayette and Jefferson counties lead in Asian-American populations

Asia Institute Crane House and the Speed Art Museum celebrated this growth Friday in Louisville, along with Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The groups hosted artists with origins in all parts of Asia to expand visitors' knowledge.

Grishma Prajapati, a Mehndi artist, said she started the practice when she was around 14 or 15 years old, but it was just for itself. She now does it for others, too. 

"This is an art," she said. "I love to do (it) for myself and ... I enjoy to do for others, too."

She makes the paste herself. It's a mixture of powdered henna leaves with water and is often applied in celebrations.

Grishma Prajapati applies Mehndi. It's a mixture of powdered henna leaves with water and is often applied in celebrations. (Spectrum News 1/Khyati Patel)

"In India, people use it to do on the special occasions, like the wedding, the baby shower or some engagement parties and all," Prajapati said. "And it's a good sign to do as we do as a part of a culture."

Amber Ma, program director at the Asia Institute Crane House, moved from China to Kentucky when she was 12. She's now been in the commonwealth for more than a decade and attended the University of Louisville. 

"At Asia Institute Crane House, our mission is to promote Asian cultures and heritage through arts, outreach and education," Ma said. "And I think our partnership with Speed Art Museum hit all three of our goals."

The Speed Art Museum and the Asia Institute Crane House partnered to honor AAPI month by using art as a form to expand knowledge.

"We have henna tattoo artists, we have Chinese calligraphy, and we have paper fans ... it's like combining both of our networks together to invite all these people into a space where we can teach them and let them know more about the Asian American Pacific Islander Month and what it means to us," Ma said. 

Ma said it boils down to connecting the various Asian communities.

"There is a community, even though we are a minority group," she said. "There's only 3% of us here in Louisville, Kentucky, but there is a group of us, and the largest Asian population in Louisville are the Indian Americans." 

The U.S. Census Bureau shows Warren, Fayette, and Jefferson counties lead in Asian-American populations.

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