I grew up in a traditional Asian family in Nanjing, China, where stability and practicality were deeply valued. In 2018, I earned a degree in Finance from Beijing City University, specializing in personal wealth management. I’ve always been someone who thinks logically, plans carefully, and acts responsibly—traits that made finance feel like the right and respectable choice. But after graduation, instead of entering the finance industry, I worked in advertising and soon found myself drawn to the growing world of social media. Out of a growing passion for film photography, I became a vlogger, creating videos that introduced people to film cameras. And I helped a café in Nanjing run its social media by filming and editing short videos. Then came the pandemic. In 2022, I made the life-changing decision to leave China and move to the United States, where I am now completing my MFA in Photography at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

My artistic journey has evolved from observing the world around me to reflecting on the emotional and spiritual space within. As an outsider who grew up in a bustling city in China and later moved to a small Southern town in the United States, I was captivated by the warmth of the people and the quiet serenity of farm life. I photographed street scenes, farm landscapes, and portraits of individuals. Gradually, my focus shifted inward because I realized that having grown up in a collectivist culture, I had never taken portraits of me that truly reflected on my inner world. Now, I work with long exposures, self-portraits, and abstract visual forms. I investigate selfhood, nature, and the intersection between body and spirit. My photographs have been exhibited at Graham Scott Gallery, featured by Gallerium, and published in F-Stop Magazine.

Beyond my personal projects, I actively collaborate with artists in other disciplines—filmmakers, fashion designers, jewelry makers, product designers. I believe in dialogue, in building connections, in making images not just for people but with them. As a child, I struggled with autism so severe I was expelled from kindergarten for being unable to speak. My mother stayed by my side, trying everything to help. In middle school, I made the choice to change. I forced myself to speak, to open up, to connect. Today I live alone on the other side of the world. I’ve learned to love myself more. I’ve become an independent woman, a responsible photographer, and a committed collaborator.

I find joy in making art, in sharing my knowledge, and in helping others get the images they dream of.