Meet Yongqi Tang | Artist

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

Hi Yongqi, why did you pursue a creative career?
I believe I chose painting more out of necessity than pleasure. Painting is one of the most engaging and challenging activities for me. Occasionally, it causes me more anxiety than joy, yet I continue to paint because I feel it necessary to. I compare painting to eating and drinking. Similarly to how you cannot survive without eating and drinking, I cannot survive without painting, which is just natural.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am most pleased of the fact that I was able to realize my dream of being an artist via my hard work and actions. A few years ago, I would not have believed that I would work as a visiting lecturer at the University of Washington and be featured on New American Painting. However, take a look at what I have accomplished so far — in 2023, I will even have solo exhibitions at a few different galleries. I have always been interested in art and was a painting major as an undergraduate, but I lacked the self-assurance to be an artist. I was also pursuing a double major in psychology, so initially I considered working as a therapist or counselor and painting as a “hobby.” As I prepare to go to graduate school, the desire to become a full-time artist grows greater, and I decided to be truthful with myself. I was aware that I had little interest in anything other than painting. It was one of the largest decisions that altered the course of my life, but it looked simple because I had been considering it for so long. The act of painting has always been exceptionally difficult. I fought hard for each and every one of them. Almost all of my paintings involve scraping off paint and repainting the entire canvas, but the outcomes are always improved, which is quite fulfilling. I’ve learnt to never give up and to just go for what I want, regardless of how difficult it may appear.

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?
My best friend just recently visited me; therefore, it has already happened! We took a road trip to Portland, Oregon, which was a lot of fun. The Mount St. Helens volcano at Cougar is my favorite. On May 18, 1980, it erupted and created a large hole. The view was breathtaking. We enjoy traveling to interesting and unusual locations.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would want to thank my parents for their support of my career decision. They are not artistic, but they support me because they love me; if they did not, it would be much more difficult for me to become a painter.

Website: ichibanstudio.blog

Instagram: yongqiichiban