Meet Xizhou Xie | Abstract Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Xizhou Xie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Xizhou, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
In my experience navigating the art business in the past 6 years, I’ve come to realize that the illusion of overnight success perpetuated by digital platforms and social media gurus can be misleading and discouraging. It’s true that some small businesses can blow up overnight on through social media, but that shouldn’t be the goal of why I create. What leads to a successful art business is the process of building trust and fostering genuine connections, which are essential for sustainable growth. This journey has taught me the importance of patience, perseverance, and the recognition that true success is a journey, not a destination.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Art has always been an important part of my life, starting from kindergarten when I started learning the piano. I went to an art-focused elementary school with the piano being my “major”, and weekly dance, singing, and drawing lessons to round out the rest of my art curriculum. From what I can remember, there wasn’t a period of my childhood where art wasn’t a constant. Despite choosing a “safe” major in statistics for college and data analysis as my career, I found myself yearning for artistic expression after my job. With no room in my 2-bedroom apartment for a piano, I took up abstract painting.
What started as a hobby quickly took over the spare room, the living room, and sometimes the garage. I had too many canvases to display, and I wanted to share them with others (and be able to purchase more art supplies). This is how the hobby turned into a business. Most of my artwork was sold through in-person art fairs where viewers can be up close and personal with the paintings.
That all came to a halt in 2020 when in-person events were entirely canceled due to the pandemic. I faced the daunting but inevitable task of pivoting my business online. The transition had its hurdles, as the personal experience of viewing artwork in person couldn’t be fully replicated virtually. What was missing, on top of being able to see the brushstrokes and textures, was the exchange, the conversation, and the connections. However, the enforced downtime allowed me to diversify my artistic repertoire, delving deeper into personal narratives and expanding my creative horizons.
In early 2021, I moved into a home equipped with a dedicated studio space, specifically built for the previous owners’ quilting hobby, and a gallery area. This means now I had a lot more space to create and display my artwork. Of course, I purchased a second-hand piano too as soon as I moved in. I spend most of my downtime creating artwork, organizing my supplies and work, decorating my studio, playing the piano, arranging my personal gallery (and daydreaming that the gallery is in downtown NYC and not just in my home). Art is no longer just a hobby or a side business – it’s my way of life.
One lesson I learned in the studio is that I cannot limit what I am expressing, as silly as that sounds. One of my favorite series started as a color study, but it wasn’t until after I completed the series that I realized it was a documentation of my journey. I start each painting with a watercolor/ink underlayer, incorporating traditional Chinese painting principles to build the foundation. Then I layer acrylic paints, pastels, and other Western mediums. It was imperative that every layer complements each other – not a single stroke or medium can overtake the entire image. It was all about balance. The practice of art, in the form of mindless color study, revealed documentation of my experience as a first-generation immigrant. The series was so different than any other works I had previously done that I wasn’t sure how to accept the disconnect initially. Are these paintings too different than what people know me for? Are they too Asian, too boring? But I came to terms with the fact that it was the right moment for me to reflect on that part of my identity and lay it on paper. The voice of an artist reflects where they are on their life journey, and it may and will change. Letting go of that fear has given me a lot more creative freedom to express what I feel a need to express.
What makes me stand out as an artist is that I believe art is not just for the walls. With my studio, gallery, and my home under one roof, I firmly believe that art should seemly be infused into everyday life. This principle underpins the diverse array of products I offer, extending beyond original artwork and prints to include functional art such as coasters, tote bags, and hand-painted jewelry. By infusing art into the fabric of daily existence, I strive to demystify the notion that art is confined to gallery walls. I hope to help others build an artful life, a life I didn’t realize I was so lucky to have as a child, and one that I was destined to build for myself.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My art business has profoundly changed my experience as a first-generation immigrant in the United States. It’s true that I live and work here, but there is a difference between living somewhere and belonging there. When my mother asked if I felt embraced here, I realized that it was through my art business that I found a resounding affirmation of belonging. Creating the art is the first act of artistic expression. The second act is the exchange that comes when the art is shared. This personal, intimate, and sometimes scary process became a conduit through which I connected with those around me. The support and encouragement I received from strangers reflect a genuine acceptance and appreciation of my place within the community. And some of these strangers have become close friends.

I’ve come to realize that success isn’t certainly not about individual talent; it’s also about the bonds formed within a community. Therefore, my shoutout is dedicated to the amazing people who have stopped and looked at my art, shared their perspectives and interpretations of my work, and perhaps given them home. Their openness and acceptance have not only shaped my artistic journey but have also enriched my sense of belonging in this new home.

Website: xizhouxie.com

Instagram: instagram.com/xizhouxie

Facebook: facebook.com/xizhouxieart

Image Credits
Photographer is Amy Lynn