Artist Statement

I am an interdisciplinary Chinese artist and educator working at the intersection of fiber and fashion. I use craft-based fiber techniques to create soft sculptures that wrap around the body—sometimes as headdresses, helmets, or masks, but always as something more. Inspired by Nuo Opera from Southwest China, my work explores transformation and empowerment through ritual. In this ancient theater form, villagers wear masks to become mythological deities, performing prayers for happiness and prosperity. My full-body masks are designed to shift the wearer’s contours, creating an intimate space where they can connect with their inner self.

I am deeply interested in psychology, and my art has always explored the link between human behavior, the subconscious, and sociological background. As an educator at a local elementary school, I incorporate my reflections and insights from my interactions with students into my art. Observing how children process emotions, navigate challenges, and engage with the world constantly informs my creative practice, deepening my understanding of transformation and healing.

My practice is deeply meditative. The repetitive motions of knitting and crocheting ground me, training my patience and focus. I find comfort in the slow, rhythmic process, and I hope to pass that feeling on through my work. My soft sculptures engage different senses of the body to introduce healing, offering both the wearer and the viewer a moment of sanctuary. I let my pieces evolve intuitively, building on each form as I work rather than forcing a fixed outcome. Energy plays a huge role in my decisions—color, texture, and technique all shape the presence of a piece. I’m drawn to wool and mohair for their warmth and structure, capturing the sense of protection I want my work to embody.

Ultimately, my work is about transformation—the transformation of thread into form, of the wearer into something beyond themselves, and of craft into a space for reflection and healing.

Education

  • Master of Fine Art, Fashion, Body and Garments, School of  Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL  2022-2024

  • Bachelor of Fine Art, Fibers and Material Study, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD 2018-2022

Upcoming

 
  • Suboart Magazine, July 2025

  • Artist Talk Magazine, July 2025

  • Rebel Magazine

  • Performance and Exhibition, “ We Built This: Making Through Migration”, Ohart Foundation,  ZhouB At Center,  July 2025


Publications


  • Artist Feature, Masterful Minds Magazine, 2025



  • Artist Feature, Circle Contemporary Quarterly Magazine, 2025


  • Artistonish Magazine Issue 57,  Artist Feature, April  2025

  • “Art and Woman, Life and creative world of 100 women artists from around the world”  Arts to Hearts Project, 2024


Exhibitions


  • First Prize - “Dimensions: Contemporary Fiber Arts”, Warwick Center for the Arts, Warwick, RI — June 2025

  • “L’arte della Pesca – La Pesca nell’Arte”, SIM School and Museum of Flyfi shing, Pesca, Italy — June 2025

  • “Here and Now” Digital Exhibition and Publication, Exhibitionzone, May 2025

  • “Extinction” Digital Exhibition, Gallerium Art, May 2025

  • “Narratives in Fiber”, Sault Area Art Center, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, May 2025

  • “Lumen”,  Verum Ultimum Art Gallery,  Portland, Oregon, May 2025

  • “Tendril, Artist Spotlight Solo Exhibition Series,” Peninsula School of Art and Gallery, Fish Creek, WI, March - May 2025

  • “Art on Loop”, Holy Art Gallery, New York City, NY, December 2025

  • “Mixing Identities”, Rome International Art Fair, Rome, Italy

  • Participating Vendor and Artist, Andersonville Galleria, Chicago, IL

  • “Picnic in the Library with Museum Squatters”, Chinese American Museum of Chicago, Chicago, IL

  • Graduate  Exhibition 2024, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

  • Solo Exhibition Case, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

  • “Fitting Session” Group Performance, Compound Yellow, Chicago, IL

  • “Witness” Performance, Graduate Critique Week, School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

  • Performance, Graduate Critique Week, School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

  • “Currency X Yicong Li” Series Brand Collaboration, Currency Studio, 5020 Concrete Project, Baltimore, MD

  • Graduation Exhibition, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

  • “PHASE” Performance, Multi-Media Event, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

  • “String Quartet” Group Performance, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

  • Group Exhibition,  Freshman Exhibition, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD



Work Experience

  • Teacher, Holy Angels Catholic School, Chicago, IL
  • Fashion Assistant Technician, School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
  • Intern, Chinese Museum of Art, Beijing, China
  • Intern, Current Space Gallery, Baltimore, MD
  • Teaching Assistant, Maryland Institute College of Art, MD
  • Volunteer, Dor Doux Fashion Pop-Up, Washington D.C.
  • Social Media Intern, Justice Web, Beijing, China. 

@ Yicong Studio 2024