Gao Yi 高怡

b.1987, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China

Gao Yi is a Chinese-American female artist. She grew up by the Qin Huai River in Nanjing, and in Los Angeles, she also lived near the seaside. Through the unique artistic conception of her works, viewer could feel that the gentle and quiet atmosphere of Jiangnan culture and the vast natural beauty of California unconsciously influenced her art practice. Her works are mainly easel paintings, focusing on the expression of subtle emotions and the exploration of unique creative methods. What is extremely special is that most of her paintings are done with traditional handmade paper, Chinese painting pigments and even coffee.

Gao Yi has held several solo exhibitions and participated in some group exhibitions in Mainland China, Hong Kong (SAR) and the United States. Hong Kong Commercial Daily, Hong Kong Economic Journal, South China Morning Post and other well-known media have also interviewed Gao Yi.

My creation is mainly based on the traditional Chinese cultural spirit, at the same time, I am constantly looking for new possibilities in Western art. Life experiences and cultural conflicts make me think more about the context of my work. The factors that affect the creation are diverse, my foreign learning experience has made me more open to think about the problems I faced while creating, while the influence of traditional culture has always been rooted in my works.

——Gao Yi