Growing up in Beijing China, I was introduced to art from a young age thanks to my father, who is an oil painter. My father encouraged my creative explorations and provided various materials and mediums to let me play with – crayons, markers, colored pencils, watercolors, inks, brushes and oil paints when I got older. While he didn’t directly teach me painting techniques, he often took me to art museums and exhibitions. Those experiences sparked my aspiration of being an artist.

However, my parents harbored reservations about my pursuit of a professional artistic career. Coming from working-class backgrounds, they understandably wished for me to have more career options, stability and security in life. Consequently, for over a decade, I stashed my artist dream aside and instead focused on the conventional path of academic achievement in STEM majors.

An event that totally changed the trajectory of my life is that I went to college in Israel, where I studied Civil and Environmental Engineering. (That’s another story too long for this interview). Living abroad far away from home has exposed me to different cultures and different ideology. I learned important skills like living on my own and problem solving. Unbeknownst to me at the time, these experiences laid the groundwork for my journey as an independent artist later on.


Right after college, I came to the US to pursue a Master’s degree in Sustainable Design and Construction at Stanford University. After graduation in 2016, I worked as a construction project manager in the Bay Area for seven years before I became a full-time artist in 2023.

Despite the detour, I’ve never lost sight of my artist dream. I kept up with my practice during the college years and held a self-curated exhibition with three friends in my senior year. After I started working, I continuously took lessons and workshops in the evenings and weekends. I’ve taken in-person classes at Pacific Art League, Bay Area Classical Artist Atelier, and numerous online courses including RISD continuous study.

I’ve been exhibiting my work in the local galleries and art institutes since 2017. Every year I had one or two group exhibitions while I worked a full-time job.

What I’m most proud of is that I never gave up. Graduate school was a very competitive and stressful environment, and I was just keeping my head above water with courseworks and numerous projects. It was so painful for me not being able to paint when a throbbing inspiration hit that I decided it was better for my sanity to stop painting completely. I was probably depressed. It took me about another year after graduation to get back to my art practice. I’m very glad and grateful that I was able to rekindle my passion for art. I need to say I didn’t do that alone. I owe this rebirth to support from friends and families, and kindness from strangers.

Learning traditional Chinese ink painting and calligraphy at my young age planted the seed for my preference for watercolor. The influence from my father and museum visits fostered my appreciation for western realism and impressionism. I learned and painted oil paintings many years before I found my true voice in watercolor. I maintained the realistic depiction of figures from oil painting and combined it with expressive brush strokes often found in Chinese ink paintings, creating the unity of two seemingly opposite forces. This duality can be seen in many aspects of my work. My engineering background gave me insight on the subjectivity of science. While my art practice taught me that art can be methodical, rational and analytical. This informed my choice of subject matters. I paint people as a way to understand them and ultimately to understand myself. My methods of delivering messages are characterized by frequent use of symbolism, fantasy, and human figures as personification of concepts.

I found inspiration and courage in artists who bravely pursued their dreams despite various difficulties. I aspire to be a beacon for those considering following their hearts. Many people have told me that I am inspiring or living their dreams. I embrace opportunities to connect at events like artist receptions and talks. These encounters prompt me to overcome my fear of being on camera, and to share my stories and struggles on social media.

My work also resonates with individuals exploring awareness and self-discovery, particularly women. As my work articulates my thoughts, emotions, longing and hope as a woman, it gives visual vocabularies for others who share these experiences. My work empowers women and shows them that they can reinvent themselves. I want them to be seen as a complete and complex individual beyond labels.

My creative process connects with people who value craftsmanship and originality, and who want to support local artists and make a positive impact on environmental issues through their purchases. I’m grateful for local organizations who provide free or low-cost exhibiting venues for artists. Thanks to them, I was able to donate 20% of the proceeds of my pop-up show this February to Ocean Defender Alliance, a non-profit committed to clearing ocean debris along the Californian and Hawaiian coasts.