We were lucky to catch up with Yini Luo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Yini, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I find a lot of joy in being an artist, even though it can be financially challenging at times. I’ve actually had the experience of a “regular” job. Right after finishing my MFA, in the early of the pandemic, I took a full-time teaching position at a college. Like everyone else, I wasn’t sure how long the pandemic would last, and I wanted some stability. Moving back to my home country for a teaching job seemed like the right choice—steady income, and ideally, time to keep working on my art.

But things didn’t go as planned. The workload was heavy, and I had little time or energy for my projects. Even though the students were inspiring and brought a lot of positive energy, I felt drained and disconnected from my art. It took a toll on me mentally, and I started feeling lost.

It was during that time, right when I was feeling at my lowest, that I realized something important: I need to keep creating. Being an artist helped me express my voice, which gave me self-confidence in a way that nothing else can. It wasn’t just about making a living but about living fully. So I decided to take the financial risk to continue my art career, knowing that it’s the path where I can truly thrive and, hopefully, inspire others along the way.

Yini, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve been immersed in fine art since a young age and now work as a freelance artist specializing in multimedia art. And I gained my MFA degree at Rhode Island School of Design. While I studied printmaking in college, my interest has always been in exploring how different media can collaborate and transform. Currently, I’m working with transparent materials like glass and epoxy resin for sculptures, combined with print-based visuals.

What excites me most is creating forms that mimic reality but don’t quite exist, challenging viewers to reflect on what they truly know. I’m proud of how I push creative boundaries by blending craftsmanship with conceptual depth, merging different art forms to create something both familiar and otherworldly. My work aims to provoke thought, and I hope it encourages audiences to rethink their perceptions of the world.

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

For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is when my work is collected. In this capitalist era, being creative feels like playing in hard mode, especially for artists. Financial support is essential for artists to continue pursuing their dreams, and it’s the biggest challenge we face. Many talented creatives give up due to financial struggles, which is heartbreaking.

Emerging artists, like Ph.D. students or postdoc researchers, need funding to support their art practice through selling art, part-time jobs, or sponsorships. For example, working with materials like glass is expensive, and I often have to save up to complete a project. When my art sells, it’s more than just a recognition of my work—it allows me to keep creating and exploring new ideas. Financial support fuels the journey and keeps the creative momentum alive.

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

That’s such a thoughtful question! Honestly, I don’t have a neatly defined mission—I think of my creative journey more as an evolving process of discovery. Every time I work on a new piece, it feels like I’m learning, not just about the medium or concept, but about myself and the world. It’s more like a learning mindset. I draw a lot of inspiration from artists like Olafur Eliasson, who explores light and perception, and Mark Dion, who works like an anthropologist, turning research into art. Their methods encourage me to push boundaries and think outside the box.

As a female Chinese artist, I feel driven to contribute a voice that goes beyond just gender conversations. My work dives into broader questions of identity, place, and where we’re headed as a society. Through my art, I hope to provoke thought and start dialogues about the deeper issues we all face, no matter where we’re from.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yiniluo.com
• Instagram: @yini_luo_

Image Credits

© Yini Luo