Yuan Fang (b. 1996)

Who: The Shenzhen-born artist lives and works in New York City, where she first attended the School of Visual Arts for a BFA in visual and critical studies, followed by an MFA from the same institution. She has appeared in group shows in New York and Beijing, as well as solo shows at Latitude Gallery in 2020, and this year at ATM Gallery in New York. Most recently, she had her West Coast debut in a solo show titled “Expanse” at Bill Brady Gallery in Los Angeles. Her work is in the collection of some private museums in China, including He Art Museum in Foshan, X Museum in Beijing, and Xiao Museum of Contemporary Art in Shandong.

What she makes: Abstract paintings characterized by colorful brushstrokes that are distilled from her evolving, transient life experience, from growing up in Shenzhen, one of China’s fastest growing modern cosmopolitans, to establishing an artistic career in New York. The swirling motion depicted on canvas explores the vulnerability of life and bodies immersed in constantly changing surroundings.

Why she appeals: “I’m curious. First meeting Yuan, I knew immediately she shared my curiosity for painting. This curiosity and her dedication to painting made her an easy choice. The paintings also spoke to me. I’m not surprised by the interest in Yuan and her paintings. She’s a painter who puts in the time and knows what she wants, while having a serendipitous approach. My kind of artist,” said Bill Brady.