Meet Yuanjie Chen | Visual Artist

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

Hi Yuanjie, we’d love to hear more about your end-goal, professionally.
The long-term goal I have always had is to be an artist who dabbles in all kinds of knowledge and theories in different fields. I prefer to learn exciting, other thoughts rather than focus on the news and history of art. I would like to have a coffee or an appointment with engineers, athletes, scientists, or other experts. Usually, I could harvest a lot of exceptional ideas from them. As we know, the most shining part of art is the thinking and understanding of the natural world from human beings. I believe the more things I know, the more art I produce that is worth my audience thinking about. Moreover, I’m also willing to try more new materials, forms, or techniques for my art studio practice. An artist’s mind is infinite, and experiencing various possibilities is able to find a personal and specific brace to prop up colossal ideas.

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 work primarily in shades of crimson red because it is a symbol of love, the color of blood, and an auspicious color in Chinese culture. I use red wax and fake blood because of their visceral qualities.

My earlier work focused on trauma, violence, and sacrifice, especially in relation to those we are connected to by blood. But my thinking has changed a lot this year. My new work explores the warmth of love, which until recently was absent from my life. It features many spirals and flower forms, specifically roses. Dark and light reds trace the highs and lows of the process of healing.

My work is inspired by my emotional journey, which has been one of finding, defining, and desiring love. I hope it can convey its importance and beauty to my audience.

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?
I’ll take my friends to the museum. Because museums are places where human history is recorded, the exhibits inside are also the crystallization of human art and wisdom.

As an artist, I prefer to go to museums for inspiration. These antiques may have been created for science, politics, or art. The philosophical value contained in it is great and immeasurable.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The primary two I want to appreciate are my parents and fiancée. My parents have always supported me from childhood to the present. They stand with me and believe me to choose the direction of art. That’s the most significant point, and they trust and support me as an artist, even though they don’t have any clues about art or my art. I really appreciate the unconditional support. It’s very important for an emerging artist.

As an international and matriculated artist who strives for a good artistic environment in New York, my biggest challenge is fighting loneliness and adapting to the business of art here. My fiancé spends a lot of time with me, chatting and helping me with my career. Even though we struggle with the 12-hour time zone, we are still with each other by video call daily. Furthermore, I don’t need to face a bunch of difficulties and tasks alone for my art career, which is beneficial because she is also a professional in the art world. The same profession and the same loving personality made us love each other even more during our three-year long-distance relationship.

All in all, they are two essential roles in my life I want to dedicate my shoutout.

Website: https://www.yuanjieyj.com

Instagram: @yuanjie_yj

Youtube: @yuanjieyjART

Image Credits
“A Journey to Celebrate and Seek” (2023-2024)
6 paintings & 1 Sculpture (so far)