Artist based in Brooklyn, NY
Jocelyn Tsaih
Tell us about yourself, what's your background?
I’m originally from Taiwan and was raised in Shanghai until I moved to New York for college. I’ve always been a creative person and grew up having various creative outlets. Although I don’t remember this, I apparently started talking when I was very young and began to tell my parents bedtime stories instead of the other way around. They’d fall asleep and I’d wake them up and let them know that the story was over. It’s funny to think that I liked making up stories at such a young age and that even now my interests really aren’t so different.
As a kid, I made comics, drew caricatures, learned instruments, and took dance lessons. Looking back, I realize how important it was to have these different forms of expression, especially as someone who was always observant and eager to share my reflections. I feel lucky to have always had creative outlets that allowed me to express my thoughts and emotions.
Formations, 2025, oil on canvas, 32x48
I had always been interested in art and finding ways to be creative, but I didn’t realize a career in the arts could be possible until much later. Growing up in an academically competitive environment, the arts were rarely seen as a practical path. What mattered most was that my parents supported my interests. Their openness to what I wanted to pursue felt ahead of its time, especially given the social norms of where and when I grew up. None of us fully understood what it would mean to become a professional artist, but I am grateful they were open to taking that journey with me.
In the studio
I chose graphic design as my major when I decided to attend SVA in New York, and those four years turned out to be incredibly formative. I learned a lot about myself -how I enjoyed expressing ideas, what felt both fun and challenging, and what my strengths are. Over time, I realized that I loved drawing more than designing, so I looked for jobs that combined the two. After a few years working at various companies, I eventually decided to take the leap and become an independent artist.
Left: Open View, 2025, oil on canvas, 22x30
Right: Landscaper, 2025, ceramic, 7 1/2 x 7 x 2"
“Newness inspires me, whether it’s experiencing a new place, learning a new skill, meeting new people, or gaining a new perspective. I think it’s important to stay curious and open so that I can continue to have new observations that fuel my work."
Ceramic sculptures on my studio shelf
What are you currently working on and where did the inspiration for it come from?
I recently attended an artist residency in Mexico City and since my return, I’ve been continuing the work I started exploring there. While I was there, I noticed being drawn to architectural elements that I’d encounter on my walks, such as the windows, textures of walls, and stone patterns on the floor. I loved all the variations that I’d see throughout the city, and I began to consider them as expressions of identity.
Left: All The Flowers, 2025, ceramic, 6 1/2 x 12 x 8"
Right: Wind Spinner, 2025, ceramic, 7 1/2 x 7 1/2 x 2 1/4"
This led me to think about the ways I understand and express my own identity as well as how identity is formed and conveyed across different cultures and places. I’ve been gathering inspiration on my walks in New York and will do the same wherever else I travel to. I’m referencing my archive of photos to create a series of paintings and ceramic sculptures that explore these reflections.
This new body of work will be shown at my upcoming solo exhibition in February at Glass Rice in San Francisco. I’m really excited by how everything is slowly coming together, and I’m also hoping to incorporate an installation aspect for this show.
Left: Upswell, 2025, oil on canvas, 24x30
Right: Marigolds, 2025, oil on canvas, 48x60
Innovation does not only happen in the field of technology — it occurs everyday in a creative practice. What do you do for inspiration?
In general, newness inspires me, whether it’s experiencing a new place, learning a new skill, meeting new people, or gaining a new perspective. I think it’s important to stay curious and open so that I can continue to have new observations that fuel my work.
I also love going to museums and galleries to get away from my studio, or going to see a movie or music show. I find that experiencing other art forms really helps spark ideas for my own practice.
Left: Mixed media pieces with sculptural wood frames in progress; Right: Mei Hua (Plum Blossom), 2025, wood and oil on canvas, 15x12x1.5
Where do ideas start for you?
My practice is a mix of commercial work and fine art work. I studied graphic design in college and eventually became an illustrator after I graduated. I’ve now been illustrating for over a decade, although initially it was a private form of processing my vulnerabilities and emotions. When this became my career, I found myself looking to make work just for myself again which led me to begin painting and making sculptures. Showing my work in gallery settings only started a handful of years ago.
For me, living life and making art are inseparable - I can’t have one without the other. Much of my work grows out of observations, conversations, and reflections. But I also need studio time to feel grounded and come back to myself in order to feel ready to be in the world.
Left: Thumbnail sketches for paintings; Right: Sculptures in progress
Making art is a way for me to navigate and process my reality. Sometimes I need to create as a way of thinking, and I only understand I was truly feeling once the piece is finished. Other times, I begin with writing to clarify my thoughts, and the visuals naturally follow. My process hasn’t always been this fluid; it’s taken years to trust myself enough to let go of rigidity and allow the work to unfold on its own.
Thought diagrams
How do you make your work, does it start with a sketch?
Most of the time, my work begins with a sketch or with writing. I often create “thought diagrams,” similar to mind maps, which help me trace my ideas and make sense of how to translate them into my visual language.
My style is illustrative, combining both figurative and abstract elements. My background is in graphic design and illustration, and I think those influences are visible in my painting approach. I’m drawn to color, gradients, contrasts in scale, and playing with light. Besides painting, I create ceramic sculptures and murals, and more recently I’ve been exploring new mediums such as wood. I love finding ways to incorporate new mediums within my work, almost as if I’m adding new layers of language to the existing ones.
Left: Painting progress in the studio; Right: Playing with the idea of combining a clay frame with a drawing
There’s also a recurring figure in my work that I’ve been illustrating for over a decade. It began as a simple sketch has evolved alongside me and my practice. This figure serves as a vessel for reflecting on the human experience, identity, and relationships. Over the years, I’ve been inspired by the endless possibilities of this form, and it has become part of my signature style.
Studio photo by Dana Mariko Chang
Many artists live by their routines, what does that look like for you?
I love slow mornings and try not to rush when I’m getting ready. I usually take my time at home to have breakfast and handle a bit of admin work before heading to the studio. Whenever possible, I like to keep computer tasks separate from studio time so I can stay more focused and less scattered when working on my pieces.
In the studio
When I’m painting, I prefer to focus on one piece at a time. I’ll often listen to comedy podcasts or music, and sometimes I’ll put on a TV show I’ve already seen just to have some comforting background noise while I’m deep in work mode.
Every week is different for me. Some weeks I’m focused on commercial illustration projects and spend less time in the studio, while other weeks, especially when preparing for a show, I might be there almost every day. I try to stay flexible and not be too hard on myself if I haven’t had as much studio time as I’d like.
In the studio
Are there books or films that are an important source of inspiration?
I’m most inspired by films that focus on the subtle aspects of our experiences: our emotions, memories, identities, and the nuances of everyday life. My goal with my own work is to capture and express the parts of life that are hardest to put into words. Whenever I encounter a book or film that manages to do this in its own way, I feel even more motivated to pursue my own version of that expression.
Two films I watched recently come to mind: Happyend and Blue Sun Palace. Both explore the inner and outer worlds of their characters, which is something I’ve been reflecting on a lot in my own practice. The emotional depths of these films have stayed with me, and that kind of lasting impression is what I strive to create through my work.
Interactive wax pastel magnet tiles where I invited viewers to make their own flower compositions
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
To remind myself that I started making art for fulfillment and purpose, especially during times when I'm feeling lost or frustrated.
'The Garden is Open', Hashimoto Contemporary, New York
What is the best advice you would give to other artists?
I think it's important to understand yourself and your voice as an artist. Make work from an authentic place, stay curious, be experimental, and have fun.
In the studio. Photo by Grace Shine Jeon
Stay up to date with Jocelyn Tsaih
Website jocelyntsaih.com
Instagram @jocelyntsaih