Meet Ziyan Lin | Emerging Artist

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

Hi Ziyan, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
There are likely two main reasons for my fascination with art.

First, I believe it stems from the flow state I enter during the creative process. This state acts as a protective shield, allowing me to focus entirely on creation.

Second, it might be tied to an innate characteristic. Even as a child, I was deeply absorbed in crafting—I could sit at a table and work on projects for an entire day. Looking back, I think the seeds of my passion for creation were already visible back then.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work revolves around exploring and blending diverse mediums, from painting to public installations. Early in my career, I focused on oil paintings, but recent projects allowed me to integrate natural and man-made materials. My most rencent works explores the connection between women and nature, using renewable materials and traditional crafts to create a powerful narrative of empowerment. Speak of Tides is a multimedia installation piece of me and my team mates, which reimagines the seashell as both a protective symbol and a vessel for female identity, inviting unexpected interactions like visitors sheltering inside it during storms.

The path to where I am today hasn’t been easy. I started studying different art mediums starting age of three in an art educator’s studio, where a weekly regular art training of 15 years took place. I applied to universities in United States and I went to Rhode Island School of Design among all I got accepted, where I continue my art practices currently.

For me, the hardest part is dealing with indecision—navigating the tension between different ideas and mediums. However, I’ve learned to embrace this as part of the process, allowing myself the freedom to explore without needing immediate answers.

My process is shaped by curiosity and a desire to merge art with everyday life. Currently, I’m exploring woodworking and furniture design to create functional art that resonates personally with people. I believe art should connect deeply, whether as an emotional experience or a part of daily living.

I hope that this chance with ShotoutLA can share my story of the ideas behind my previous works and the story of me currently incorporting furniture studies as my art practices.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I really enjoyed my time in Los Angeles a lot, my favorite spot would be the Broad museum, a place where amazing contemporary art collection was exhibited..

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I lowkey want to mention my team WUWU Lab in my story.

Instagram: https://lin.zi.yann

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziyan-lin-48a3b8330/

Image Credits
Qitao Yang, Yuhan Zhao