Xiao He

Originally from Chengdu, China, and currently based in San Francisco, Xiao He is a multidisciplinary artist who focuses on drawing and artists' books. Xiao He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Xiao's works have been exhibited internationally at venues including the 2022 Art Capital in Paris, France, the 2021 Biennale di Genova in Genoa, Italy, Upstream Gallery in New York, USA, Huacui Contemporary Art Center in Shanghai, China, and Zhou B Art Center in Chicago, USA. Her artist interviews have been featured in Al-Tiba9 Art Magazine, VoyageLA, and Vogue China. Her mixed media artist’s book, "A Collection of Random Thoughts," is now part of the permanent collection at the Joan Flasch Artists’ Book Collection in Chicago.

I explore human emotions and storytelling in my drawings and artists' books, drawing inspiration from film and literature. I often listen to short stories while drawing, as they serve as surreal portals into an imaginative world with characters such as a wolf-like pregnant mother, ancient rock carvers, and illusional figures hidden within yellow wallpaper. As a Chinese woman, self-reflective themes like marriage and motherhood hold a special place in my heart, and these themes are interwoven throughout my works.