Artist based in Chicago, IL
Xiaohan Jiang in the studio, Portrait of the Artist.
What are you currently working on and where did the inspiration for it come from?
I’m currently continuing to explore mixed fabrics and combining them with wood, and I'm curious to see what kinds of surprises might emerge from the interaction between these materials.
Untitled, 2025, oil on wood, 10x 8 inch
“The compositions emerge intuitively, shaped by the materials themselves and my interaction with them. This process is highly improvisational, and I find great joy in it. I often stop at the moment when I sense a poetic ambiguity within the work, when something elusive and open begins to take shape."
The land keeper, 2025, oil on felt, velvet, and mixed fabric, 10x8 inch
Just Beyond the Sight, BONIAN SPACE, Beijing, China, photo cr to Bonian Space
Describe your practice and process. Where do ideas start for you? In the studio or being in the world?
I often turn to books, films, or biblical stories in search of inspiration. I'm deeply drawn to allegorical narratives and the poetic mysteries they hold. Sometimes, a single line of my own poetry will spark a chain of associations. My painting process feels much like a form of meditation, intuitive, contemplative, and open to the unknown. I cherish the unexpected moments that emerge as the work unfolds.
Shy sky, 2024, oil on velvet over panel, 10 x 8inch, photo cr Xiaohan Jiang
How do you make your work, does it start with a sketch?
I usually begin my work without any preliminary drawings. Instead, I collect wood, fabrics, or other shaped materials from various places and respond to their spontaneous forms and textures. The compositions emerge intuitively, shaped by the materials themselves and my interaction with them. This process is highly improvisational, and I find great joy in it. I often stop at the moment when I sense a poetic ambiguity within the work, when something elusive and open begins to take shape.
Just Beyond the Sight, BONIAN SPACE, Beijing, China, photo cr to Bonian Space
Many artists live by their routines, what does that look like for you?
I usually wake up around nine or ten, feed my cat, and then take a shower before heading to the studio. Once there, I might start the day by reading some poetry. Lately, I've been immersed in Louise Glück’s work. Sometimes, I put on music to settle into the mood, such as instrumentals by Bach or Chopin, or on other days, songs by King Crimson, Nick Drake, or Sonic Youth. After a bit of tidying up, I begin preparing to work.
Untitled, 2025, oil and mixed media on panel, 10 x 8inch, photo cr Xiaohan Jiang
Who are your biggest influences?
Rainer Maria Rilke, Marina Abramović.
A town called feather stone, 2025, oil and mixed media on panel, 10 x 8inch, photo cr Xiaohan Jiang
Are there books or films that are an important source of inspiration?
Books: One Hundred Years of Solitude, Siddhartha
Movie: Meshes of the Afternoon, La Jetée (1962)
Just Beyond the Sight, BONIAN SPACE, Beijing, China, photo cr to Bonian Space
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Be brave.
Portrait of the Artist.
Stay up to date with Xiaohan Jiang
Website xiaohanjiang.com
Instagram @____mooner____