I hail from an exotic corner of New York known as Long Island. I’ve loved drawing and painting for as long as I can remember – but growing up in a Chinese immigrant household, I was raised on conventional definitions of success. Like many children of immigrants, I did the safe, respectable thing: I studied hard, checked all the boxes, and got into a prestigious university. For nearly a decade, I built a career in marketing and design. These were some good life experiences! I got to travel the world, study culture, and learn how to use my creativity to solve problems.

Throughout my twenties, I kept making art for myself. Eventually, I couldn’t ignore this nagging feeling that I was playing it too safe. What if I really allowed myself to pursue a career in art, and discover my unique artistic voice? What would it look like to live life on my own terms? In 2024, I decided to leave the corporate world to answer these very questions.