Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Zoee Xiao. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Zoee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Taking A Risk: My Story of Freeing Myself from Golden Handcuffs and Finding My Soul

In the summer of 2018, I got a promotion, to the next level of software engineer. A thought struck me: am I going to keep coding until I’m 65? Damn, that’s a terrifying thought. I didn’t hate coding, and I had just landed my long-anticipated promotion; I should be happy. But I’m not. The idea of pursuing software engineering for life terrified me, prompting a serious contemplation of my life plan.

I was an art kid growing up, attended art classes, and created my comics. However, in Chinese culture, pursuing art was never deemed an option—it was often portrayed as a path leading to the streets. Or so I was told. As a result, art remained a mere hobby for me. Yet, in the summer of 2018, Instagram was still cool. I stumbled upon numerous artists sharing their lives on Instagram, and that opened a door for me. I began to wonder: what if I pursue art for life? Could that be something that brings me happiness?

I started to take small steps to pick up art again. I dedicated time daily, before and after work, and on weekends. My social life shrank, and my resting time became minimal, but the feeling was incredible. I started seriously considering a career in art.

What does it mean to be a professional artist—both business-wise and creatively? I juggled both roles for about four years, working as a software engineer during the day and as a creative for the rest of the time. It was stressful, and at times, I felt I was losing myself. I was perpetually tired. Yet, I hadn’t felt this happy in my entire life. Consciously or unconsciously, I was liberating myself from my culture and my six-figure income job. And it felt amazing.

In the winter of 2022, I made the leap. I quit my office job and became a full-time artist. I didn’t have everything figured out then, and truth be told, I still don’t have the entire plan. I took a leap of faith. I gathered all my courage to say no to being a corporate machine part and embraced my individuality to express myself freely. I decided my feelings and how I want my life to be is more important than other people’s opinions. I only live once, and I want to live it freely. I want to say to myself on my deathbed: hey this is the life I wanted, I’m glad I lived it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a mixed media painter, focusing on a minimalist and impressionist style. Art and nature has been an important part of my life since a young age. I grew up in a beautiful southern town in China and was trained under a sumi-e painter at a young age. After growing up, I moved to United States to study animation and computer graphics in University of Pennsylvania, and then started working as a gaming software engineer after graduation. But my love for art continued strongly. I spent years developing my artist career while working as a full time engineer. The eastern and western influence moved me to incorporate minimalist eastern aesthetic into colorful western aesthetic. The process of making art also helped me tremendously when dealing with stress and depression from my engineer job. Now as a full time artist, I want to channel such healing power to my audience through my art, helping them ease the stress and pain in modern life.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I broke the news to my mom about quitting my job to pursue art, being a typical Chinese mom, she simply refused to believe it. Despite my long preparation for the switch, she was shocked and furious that I would leave behind a stable six-digit income job for art, deeming it crazy and irresponsible. I felt very sad about her reaction.

I felt sad that she couldn’t comprehend my struggles with my office job, witnessing my diminishing happiness as I became a mere cog in the corporate machine. I felt sad that she believed this was the only way to live life – the path of stability and fewer worries.

But I know I need to fix this. She is my mom, and I need to have her on board.

So, I persisted in sharing my progress with her, whether she liked it or not. Initially, her reaction was far from positive. Yet, bit by bit, she began to grasp the extent to which my corporate job had affected my mental health and how art was serving as a remedy. She started to understand the various ways artists can make a living and witnessed the growth of my art income.

Eventually, she came around. Now, she proudly showcases my art to her friends and, with a smile, says to me, “I finally understand your art now”

My efforts paid off. I’m glad I didn’t give up, and seeing her acceptance is truly rewarding.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

In recent decades, corporations have grown into massive entities, often overshadowing and siphoning resources from small businesses. As the corporate workforce continues to expand, more and more people find themselves navigating the complexities of corporate politics and bureaucracy. I believe my struggles in this regard are not alone. Art has been an immense source of support for me in dealing with the stress and depression associated with these challenges. My goal is to channel this healing power to my audience, creating art that brings a genuine smile to their faces.

Contact Info:

• Website: zoeexiao.com
• Instagram: @zoeexiao
• Facebook: facebook.com/zoeexiao
• Youtube: youtube.com/zoeexiao
• Tiktok: @zoeexiao