Meet a VC Intern: Kate Ahn

Learn about one of VC’s 2025 Summer Interns, Kate Ahn, our Archives Exhibition Intern!

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi! My name is Kate, and I’m the Archives Exhibition intern at VC this summer. I grew up between Massachusetts and Southern California, and I recently graduated from UCLA with a degree in film. At UCLA, I was also a part of LCC Theatre as a writer and director, and worked at the punk archive at Young Research Library as an assistant. I also play lead guitar in a rock band called Lady Vengeance.

How did you hear about Visual Communications and what drew you to apply?

I first learned about Visual Communications when I watched Robert Nakamura’s Manzanar for a class I took my freshman year at UCLA. After reading more about the organization and the offered programs, I always thought about applying to the internship but never got around to doing it until this year. I’m incredibly passionate about archives and the work they do as historical and community institutions, and I wanted to be part of VC’s mission to support Asian-American artists. Archives are living proof of just how resilient our community is, and keeping them alive and updated is an integral part of building and supporting both cultural memory, analysis, and art.

What do you hope to learn from this internship?

I hope to learn more about how archives interact with the public, and how the resources available can support artists. I’m specifically interested in the VC’s Armed With a Camera Fellowship and film festival, and how archives can be implemented to support independent artists. In terms of archive exhibition, I’d also love to play a role in making archived material like oral histories, photographs, and videos available to the public.

MBTI: INTJ-A

Artist on Repeat: The Distillers (Coral Fang PA version) and Placebo (their first album is their best album!) are my favorite bands. I also have a soft spot for metal bands like Type O Negative and Metallica.

3 Favorite Films: Fish Tank (2009), Decision To Leave (2022), Magnolia (1999). 

Favorite Place in the World: Los Angeles! I’ve loved living here for the past four years, the film and music scenes here are fantastic. I love catching a local backyard show or seeing movies at theaters like the New Beverly, the Nuart, and the Billy Wilder Theater.

What do you like to do in your free time?: In my free time, I love writing and playing guitar. I also do my best to read as many books as I can – I’m currently making my way through A Feast of Snakes by Harry Crews, and I’m a huge fan of Anne Rice’s books. My favorites are Cry To Heaven and The Vampire Lestat.

Hidden Talent: I can tell you a lot of fun facts about rats. They’re my favorite animal!

Hot Take: I hate AI and refuse to use it

Restaurant Recommendation: Falafel Inc has good prices and good food. I recommend getting a falafel sandwich and the za’atar fries with habibi sauce.

Visiting Toronto with my sister Clary

playing shows with the band

cool pics from the jenny lens collection at the ucla punk archive!