Born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1974, Kao received her BA from Sarah Lawrence College and currently lives and works in Brooklyn.

With a background in Continental philosophy, Amy Kao's work speaks to experiences of nature as markers of history and culture. Her work has been exhibited in many public venues, such as the Busan Biennale, Korea; Brooklyn Museum of Art, NY; P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, NY; Asian American Art Centre, NY and Apexart, NY. Solo exhibitions include Michael Steinberg Fine Art, NY and Venetia Kapernekas Gallery, NY.  Kao is a recipient of residency fellowships at Yaddo, NY; MacDowell Colony, NH; Art Omi, NY and the Lower East Side Printshop, NY. Reviews of her work have appeared in publications such as the New York Times, the Financial Times and Art News.