We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Xiaohan Pei a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Xiaohan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I’m deeply grateful to my parents for their support. I’ve loved drawing since I was about 3 or 4 years old, and my parents have always supported this hobby. They sent me to drawing classes and bought me any relevant materials and tools. What turned art into my profession was a conversation with my mom.

After I moved to America for high school, my mom asked if I had decided on my major for college. I had no idea about my career path, but I knew I loved drawing. She suggested that if I loved drawing so much, why not turn it into a career? So, she searched for an art studio and let me try it out to see if this path would suit me. The studio offered various art classes, and I chose illustration, entertainment, and logo design to try. Eventually, I chose illustration as my major.

I’m so grateful to my mom for planning ahead for my future and respecting my wishes. I can’t imagine how confused I would have been without her help. I feel lucky to have my family’s support in my decision to make art not only my career but also my way of life.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Xiaohan Pei, an illustrator living in New York. My works are inspired by real-life stories, news, my personal experiences, and my understanding of the world. My ideas emerge naturally from within—my inner self expresses my perspective strongly through my work. These forces guide my intuition. My art illustrates the words of my inner voice. It’s weird and dreamlike but direct in expression. I describe my art as “creepy-cute.” I’m also passionate about handmaking, 3D modeling, animating, and logo design. Currently, I’m pursuing my final year of a master’s degree at the School of Visual Arts Illustration as Visual Essay program.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, it is always the ability to create. I enjoy the process of creating and seeing the image in my head appear in my hand. My creation not only expresses my point of view but also helps me understand myself. Whenever viewers can resonate with my art or find their own understanding within my creations, it feels so fascinating.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I don’t think I can call it my goal because I can’t arrogantly claim that my art is great enough to change the world. However, if it can shift even a small part of someone’s perspective, I would be completely satisfied. I’ve been steadfast in advocating for women’s rights, and if my art can resonate with more girls and help them recognize injustice, then it holds true meaning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yuexiaohan.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuexiaohan_art

Image Credits

https://yuexiaohan.com/