Meet Sue Ellen Zhang | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sue Ellen Zhang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sue Ellen, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
During my senior year of college, the pressure of graduation and the daunting apprehension of entering the real world caused my insides to boil. My family viewed my major (Linguistics & Psychology) as a dead-end for finding a job, and constantly pushed their ideas of successful careers. But nothing appealed to me and I had no idea what I wanted to do.

A few months before graduation, I had a psoriasis onset. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation on the skin with red scaly patches. I watched my mother battle this chronic disease my whole life and I was terrified to see it appear all over my own skin. I felt helpless and alone, and now my outsides were boiling too. Psoriasis affected every inch of my body and even creeped onto my face. Physically, I could withstand it, but mentally, I couldn’t. I constantly thought about my psoriasis, about my mom, about my future, and the more I ruminated, the worse my condition got. It was an endless cycle.

At this point, I had not painted for years, but one day I was compelled to create an image that expressed how I felt. I was restricting my diet to see if it had any positive effect on my skin, and the limitations felt reminiscent of my ballet days – a ball of angst filled my chest that desperately needed to be released. So, I bought acrylics, brushes, and a canvas, and pounded out a painting. Time passed by so quickly, I forgot I even had psoriasis. It was exhilarating, not only was I finally present, but I also created a new work of art. Obsessed, I bought bulk packs of 18×24 canvases from Michael’s, sprawled my supplies across the living room, and claimed it as my studio.

From then on, all I did was drag myself to class, and then race back home to paint. It was the only way I could cope with the distress and frustration. Securing a dermatology appointment was nearly impossible due to 4-month long wait times and none of the topical treatments were working, so I just kept painting. I kept painting and painting until the days became easier and I started recognizing the small beauties in life. I even saw the beauty of the red blotches on my skin. I appreciated my psoriasis for giving me the joy of painting and releasing my unending creativity.

I vowed to myself that I would live my life as authentically and as outrageously as I could with or without psoriasis. Months later, I was introduced to a biologic that I qualified for. Thanks to modern biotechnology, I am now free of red patches, and left with an artistic soul. Currently, I have a day job in the UCLA Neuromodulation Division as an administrative assistant and an outreach coordinator, and, on the side, I continue to paint and grow as an artist.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Chinese culture values discipline and hard work – the tradition holds that with patience and training, anything is possible. From a young age, I embraced this cultural mindset and was immersed in a variety of arts including fine art, piano, and ballet. This dedication allowed me to not only establish a solid technical foundation but also build a strong character.

However, being Chinese-American meant navigating a culture that shames emotion and idolizes achievements. I found myself inside a pressure cooker, leading to a loss of meaning and self. I used art to discover these lost parts. Surrealism became a bridge to my past and abstract dreamscapes set a stage for repressed emotions. Currently I am exploring the balance between these two styles, and introducing design elements to add structure and logic to my artistic expression.

I am interested in belief systems, which serve as anchors of identity and a savior to chaos. As an artist, I am a vessel for ideas, and painting is a medium for me to reflect the beautiful absurdity in this world.

Beyond the traditional canvas, I sell hand painted tote bags to promote wearable art – it’s a simple way to bring art into everyday life. Art thrives in its connection with its audience and these tote bags allow me to give back to those that have supported my journey. Granting my customers creative freedom for their personalized tote bags has not only posed a delightful challenge for me as an artist, but has also become a source of immense joy to provide unique products to equally unique people.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The beauty of Los Angeles is the diversity of people and places. Driving around the city is the best way to see all the different cultures LA has to offer. But more specifically…

I’d go anywhere in Thai Town, Koreatown, Sawtelle, Little Tokyo or San Gabriel for Asian food. Maccheroni Republic for Italian food.

For a fun night out, go out to some random bar or club in Hollywood, meet a group of people, hop in cars with no idea where you’re going, and end up in a hidden club dancing until 8am.

Another way to spend the night is dress up and go to art gallery receptions. Drink the free alcohol and then strike up conversation. You’ll learn some interesting perspectives.

I enjoy Los Feliz for shopping – there’s locally-made gifts, independent bookstores, and lots of vintage clothing.

A hike to Griffith Park is a great attempt to get away from the city and to admire the vastness of Los Angeles from above.

Hollywood Farmers’ Market on Sunday for the best LA street style and fresh foods. The nearby Trader Joe’s has some witty Hollywood themed art as well.

Walk around Downtown. There’s so many cultural hubs and areas to explore – Fashion District, Jewelry District, Arts District, Historical Downtown, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, etc.

One of my favorite ways to learn is through museums. Spend a day at the Getty, where you can enjoy the gardens, views, art, and sculptures. I really like the USC Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena. Also, explore Forest Lawn – it’s a beautiful cemetery with an art museum.

I’d also make time to drive down to one of the beaches: Malibu for some cliffs, and Venice for something local.

Overall, wherever you go, be kind, curious, and conversational.

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?
My parents, Gao Long & Liu Hong, and Pacific Northwest Ballet for constructing my foundation. My friends for being such great friends – supporting and loving me through all my phases. My boyfriend, Alexi, for pushing me into the deep end and being both my inspiration and my anchor. My job at UCLA Neuromodulation for their patience and acceptance. & Everyone I’ve met along the way (such as Chieh-Ting Chuang who recommended me for this interview) and everyone I will meet!

Website: zhangsueellen.com

Instagram: @sueellenzhang and @suwupaintz

Other: art.sueellen@gmail.com