Meet Phyllis Zhao | Visual Storyteller & Motion Designer

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

Hi Phyllis, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
When encountering obstacles in my creation, sometimes I ask myself, what career would be chosen if I didn’t do art? But all assumptions will eventually be defeated by passion and love. I am willing to dedicate my whole life to art. Creation has given me a lot of superpowers. It can help me deconstruct nature, record life, and create the world using my visual language; it also gives me the ability to visualize emotions. I firmly believe that art can convey love and positive energy to people. As a creator, it is very meaningful to help more people find their inner peace.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am fortunate to have turned a hobby into a career. Imagination, creativity, and empathy have always been the most important parts of my career. Being a visual storyteller is a wonderful thing. It not only requires me to be curious about the things around the world but also needs me to be always sensitive to life.

I am an artist who loves challenges. Basis of storytelling, I will constantly experiment with different materials, styles, and forms. Changeability has brought me many new opportunities and possibilities. Now, my work focus will gradually shift from illustration to motion design. Please look forward to my next step creation.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If they’re visiting in the summer, Chattanooga is definitely the place I’d recommend the most. Which is a quiet small city, and people’s life pace is slow. Take the century-old transparent train on the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway and drive through the jungle to the top of the mountain to enjoy the 360-degree beauty along the road. Living at the top of the mountains is the most pleasant thing for me. Wake up in the morning, breathe the fresh air, and even feels like you can touch the clouds. Really cleansing the soul. For Food, I will take them to Public House Restaurant. Their appetizer is delicate and tasty; the grilled steaks are juicy.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my mom; without her support and encouragement, I would not be where I am today. I wasn’t an excellent academic kid; ADHD made me easily distracted and naughty. Many people told my mom to give up my education; they thought art was not a promising career and I would never succeed. Her unwavering trust and positive attitude toward life set an excellent example for me and gave me great courage to pursue my dreams in the face of adversity. I would also like to thank Savannah College of Art and Design for being such a creative and vitality place. Thanks to all the professors and friends who have supported me along my journey. They helped me be one step closer to achieving my goal.

Website: https://www.phyllis-zhao.art/

Instagram: purplephyllis.x

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyllis-zhao-9726a81ba/

Image Credits
Phyllis Zhao