Art Works
As an artist, I seek to capture the intricate layers of human experience, blending personal introspection with broader emotional and psychological themes. My work often draws from my deep interest in psychology, where I explore the complexities of the mind and its interaction with the world. To me, art serves as a universal language, one that transcends cultural and individual differences while revealing hidden truths about the human condition.
In Eternity, a printmaking piece that earned a Golden Key in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, I examine the cyclical nature of existence. Through flowing lines and skull imagery, I explore themes of life, death, and what lies beyond—symbolizing the inevitable passage of time and the transient nature of our lives.
In my photography, I delve into the blossoming of femininity, sensuality, and transformation. The use of ripe fruit and soft, draped fabrics serves as a metaphor for growth, maturity, and the delicate balance between innocence and vulnerability. These works evoke the emotional complexity and strength inherent in the feminine journey, offering viewers a space to reflect on the quiet power of self-discovery and transformation.
Growing up between Chinese and American cultures has deeply shaped my artistic voice, imbuing it with a unique perspective that blends traditional techniques with contemporary ideas. Photography allows me to capture fleeting moments and subtle emotional shifts, while printmaking provides a platform for exploring more symbolic and philosophical narratives. Across all mediums, my art is a continuous journey of self-exploration and a means of connecting with the shared human experience.
PAINTING
Self-portrait
60*80 inches. Oil on Canvas
"Self Portrait" explores the depth of my identity and the complexity of self-perception. In this work, I use dynamic, expressive brushstrokes to depict my own face, partially obscured by a chaotic array of colors and textures. The thick layers of oil paint—ranging from bright reds and whites to subdued earth tones—intertwine to create a powerful contrast against a deep, dark background.
Emerging from a storm of abstract shapes and lines, my face blurs the boundary between the figurative and the abstract. This interplay reflects the challenges I face in understanding my own identity, with my features appearing both clear and ambiguous, much like the complexity of human emotions and the fragmented, often conflicting aspects of the self. The layered paint represents the diverse nature of emotions and the profound psychological states within me.
PHOTOGRAPH
Oasis of Solitude
12*24 inches. Oil on Canvas
This artwork depicts a serene and minimalistic landscape with a focus on simplicity and tranquility. The light, earthy tones in the background contrast with the vibrant greens of the foliage, creating a sense of harmony and calm. The lone chair by the pool suggests a quiet moment of solitude and relaxation
Shanghai Nostalgia
30*40 inches. Woodcut Print
This print captures a nostalgic view of an urban street, characterized by the distinct architecture and signage of a bygone era. The stark contrast of black and white emphasizes the play of light and shadow, creating a sense of depth and texture that draws the viewer into the scene.
Self-portrait Ⅱ
9*12inches. Gouache on paper
This painting captures a fleeting moment where I find solace in sweets to soothe my sadness. In the composition, I am depicted in shades of deep blue, embodying a state of melancholy, while the cake in front of me bursts with vibrant, lively colors.
The contrast between the muted blues of my figure and the kaleidoscope of hues on the cake serves as a visual metaphor for the emotional duality of this experience. The cake symbolizes the small, colorful joys we reach for in moments of distress — a temporary comfort against the backdrop of a more profound, persistent sadness.
GO collage
9*12inches.Digital Collage
"GO Collage" captures a moment where reality and imagination intertwine. In the image, my hand reaches for a gleaming game piece, poised to land on a Go board—a traditional game symbolizing strategic thinking and the balance of offense and defense. Surrounding it are floating clouds, cosmic patterns, and abstract architectural shapes, all interwoven to create a multidimensional space where the real and surreal worlds collide.
By juxtaposing elements from nature, the cosmos, and human-made structures, I aim to express the complex relationship between decision-making, creativity, and the unknown inherent in games. The overlapping shapes and shifting perspectives symbolize the inherent uncertainty and multiplicity of possibilities in life and play.
Bloom
40*40 inches. Oil on Canvas
In this painting, I sought to express the profound strength of women, particularly the duality of pain and sanctity involved in nurturing life. The composition combines elements of a flower, a fetus, and female anatomy, interwoven to symbolize the powerful capacity of the female body to create and sustain life. The vibrant reds and flowing forms echo both the intensity of childbirth and the sacred nature of this creative force. It is a tribute to the resilience, strength, and sacredness inherent in the female experience.
Moment of sharing
9*11inches. Gouache on paper
This painting captures a tender and nostalgic moment from my childhood, where the simple act of sharing snacks with a dear friend becomes a cherished memory. Rendered in gouache, this piece embraces the soft, dreamy quality of recollection, using delicate strokes and a palette of warm and inviting colors to evoke a sense of innocence and joy.
Eternity
18*24 inches. Printmaking
2023 Scholastic Art Award Gold Key reginal
This printmaking piece explores the delicate yet haunting interplay between life and death. The flowing hair of a somber woman merges seamlessly with the skull beneath her, representing the eternal cycle that connects life and decay. Her expression, distant and introspective, contrasts with the intricate organic patterns surrounding her—floral designs and swirling forms, which emphasize the themes of nature, decay, and rebirth.
The use of black and white intensifies the dramatic tension between beauty and mortality. The skull serves as a stark reminder of death as an inevitable part of the eternal cycle of existence. Through the intricate and almost frantic lines, I wanted to convey a sense of movement, of time continuously flowing.
This series of photographs is a visual journey through the lens of feminine experience, capturing the emotional and sensory world of adolescence and self-discovery. Each image speaks to recognizable symbols that resonate with themes of womanhood, emotional complexity, and a distinct, deeply personal perspective.
Folds
24*16 inches. 2023
Folds is a reclaiming of the part of my womanhood that I felt had been taken from me by the assault. I sought to create an unapologetically feminine image: the luxurious folds of pink silk suggest a woman’s dress or bedspread, intimate objects tied to my personal identity. Through this photograph, I wanted to engage with the grief and betrayal I experienced, but also to give voice to the part of me that had been silenced. The soft, flowing fabric symbolizes the complexities of femininity—the strength within vulnerability, the beauty within what has been damaged. In creating Folds, I aimed to reassert control over my own narrative, reclaiming my womanhood and using art to transform that loss into a new form of expression.
Fruitful
24*16 inches. 2023
I photographed a ripe pomegranate and a broken-open fig bathed in dying light, evoking the tension between loss and abundance. I wanted to suggest that even in moments fraught with grief, there is still the possibility of reaping something meaningful. The fruit, ripe yet fragile, serves as a metaphor for the richness that can emerge from pain—the body’s capacity for regeneration and growth. Though loss feels pervasive, the image offers a quiet reflection on how abundance can still be found within that experience. The warm, fading light not only captures the fleeting nature of time but also hints at the resilience of life, even in its most difficult moments.
Fruitful II
24*16 inches. 2023
The sliced fruit, now laid bare, echoes the idea that even after significant loss or trauma, there is still the potential for something meaningful to emerge. The softness of the fabric represents both comfort and vulnerability, inviting a more intimate reflection on how we nurture ourselves through these experiences. The image reinforces the idea that, much like in Fruitful, even in the most painful moments, there is still the possibility to create and cultivate something beautiful. Fruitful II offers a quiet affirmation that life, with all its challenges, continues to hold space for renewal and abundance.
Down the Drain
24*16 inches. 2023
2023 Scholastic Art Award Honorable Mention
The soap and hair together represent the body’s capacity to cleanse and renew itself, while the drain symbolizes an attempt to wash away the experience of violation. This image embodies both the literal and metaphorical cleansing process—a desire to reclaim the part of myself that was taken, and to let go of the trauma, while also acknowledging the difficulty of fully releasing it. By bringing these intimate, everyday objects into focus, I sought to express my journey toward healing and regaining control over my own body and emotions.