Meet Yuxin Li | Illustrator & Game Designer & Tattoo Artist

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

Hi Yuxin, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Ever since I was a child, I’ve had a wide range of interests—I tried everything from dancing to playing musical instruments. But in the end, the only thing I truly stuck with was drawing. When it came time to choose a major in high school when applying for college, I found myself torn between pursuing something I loved and opting for a more financially rewarding path. But as you can see, here I am. I’ve never been one to enjoy feeling constrained—life is short, after all. Doing what I love allows me to live authentically and at peace with myself.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Before my junior year, I was still exploring my own artistic style. That period was probably one of the more anxious times in my life because, for an artist, having a sustainable and distinctive personal style is incredibly important. Back then, I experimented with all kinds of mediums, and each one led me to a different artistic expression.

It wasn’t until the second semester of my sophomore year, when I took an Advanced Motion class, that everything started to click. In that class, I fell in love with animation and discovered my true passion—pixel art. There’s something timeless about pixel art; it carries a sense of nostalgia yet never feels outdated. The idea of conveying meaning through tiny squares within a limited canvas embodies the philosophy of “less is more.” Since then, I’ve been on a journey to explore the endless possibilities of pixel art.

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?
If it’s their first time in New York, The Met, MoMA, and some Chelsea galleries are definitely on my must-visit list. And of course, Central Park, the Botanical Garden, and the Bronx Zoo—after immersing in art and culture, getting closer to nature is always a great idea. If they want to go to the beach, Coney Island is a solid choice. And if it’s summer, they can even catch the fireworks at night, which makes the experience even more magical.

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?
Looking back on my journey, there are so many people I want to thank. Throughout my growth, I’ve been fortunate to meet many mentors and kind-hearted individuals. But the ones I’m most grateful for are my family—my mother and my grandmother. It may sound cliché, but they have truly been my biggest supporters, always offering guidance and encouragement whenever I faced major life decisions. I know many friends who had to compromise on their passions due to concerns about their future careers or pressure from their parents. That’s why I feel incredibly thankful that my family has always given me the respect and freedom to pursue what I truly love.

Website: https://cactuszip.com

Instagram: @cactus_zip