Biography

Norm Yip was born and raised in Canada by Chinese parents. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) in 1984 at the University of Saskatchewan and his Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1989 at the University of Toronto. In 1994, he moved to Hong Kong where he worked as a project architect for Wong & Tai Associates Ltd and RTKL International Ltd before pursuing his greater interest in art and photography.

In 1999, he co-founded the art collective Meli-Melo Artists Alliance (MMAA) where he curated several exhibitions with artists such as Gavin Tu, Neung and Oksana Movchan from Hong Kong, Thailand and Canada. Shortly thereafter, he formed his own photography company Norm Yip Photography, in addition to Studio 8, a semi-public photographic and art space located in the district of Sheung Wan — where he hosted private and selected exhibitions in all three mediums of photography, painting and graphite.

As a photographer, Norm’s work has appeared in HK Magazine, WHERE, Global Investor and American Express’ Centurion magazine. Celebrities he has photographed include Zhang Yimou, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Destiny’s Child and Korean pop-star Rain. Norm is recognized for his fine art photographs of beautiful and sensuous Asian males.

Norm’s work was first recognized when his photographs of Asian men were selected to appear in publications 2Blue and Dreamboys 2, both special editions of acclaimed Blue Magazine, known for its excellence in fine art photography. Since then, his work has been featured in The Best of International Nudes Photography III by Feierabend Unique Books and The Romantic Male Nude by James Spada. Most recently, his photography was featured in Physique Pictorial (Edition 43).

He published three photography books in the Asian male series, namely The Asian Male – 1.AM, 2.AM and 3.AM, as well as an pilot soft-cover publication Beaux Magazine, V1. All are available on Amazon.

Norm has taught photography courses at The Open University of Hong Kong and has been a guest lecturer at Hong Kong Art School. In addition, he has been invited by the Cathay Camera Club to act as a judge in their monthly photography competitions.

In 2008, he moved his studio to Chai Wan, an industrial neighborhood, where he continues to photograph, paint and draw.