Today we’d like to introduce you to Chloe Chen.
Hi Chloe, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always been passionate about art, and that eventually led me to pursue an M.F.A. in Painting and Drawing in New York. During graduate school, I developed a multidisciplinary practice that includes large-scale ink drawings, ceramics, and printmaking. My work explores how societal expectations, cultural conventions, and my own experiences shape identity, particularly through the lens of women’s sexuality. Since then, my work has been exhibited internationally in the United States, South Korea, and China.
Alongside my studio practice, I’ve spent the past several years teaching art and developing curriculum for young artists. Teaching has become an important part of my journey because it continually inspires my own creative practice while allowing me to help others discover their artistic voices. Today, I balance creating my own work with art education, and both continue to inform and strengthen each other.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been balancing my responsibilities as an art educator with maintaining my own studio practice. Teaching is incredibly rewarding, but it also takes a lot of time and energy, so I’ve had to learn how to be intentional about protecting time for my own creative work.
Another challenge has been finding inspiration consistently. I used to think inspiration would just come naturally, but I’ve realized that creativity is really built through observation, routine, and persistence. Even during creative blocks, I keep making work, sketching, and reflecting on my daily experiences. Many of those ordinary moments eventually become the starting point for new ideas.
Looking back, those challenges have actually shaped me as both an artist and an educator. They’ve taught me discipline, patience, and the importance of continuing to create even when the process feels uncertain.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist working primarily in large-scale ink drawings, ceramics, and printmaking. My work is rooted in my own daily experiences, and I often begin by observing ordinary routines like applying makeup, choosing accessories, or regulating emotions. These small, everyday actions become a way to explore larger questions about identity, cultural expectations, consumerism, and the pressures placed on women.
I think what sets my work apart is that it’s deeply personal but also speaks to broader social experiences. Rather than illustrating an idea directly, I start with self-examination and use my own experiences as a way to invite viewers to reflect on their own. I want my work to create a space where people can think about the expectations we often accept without questioning.
What I’m most proud of is staying true to that voice. As my practice has evolved across different mediums, I’ve continued to create work that’s honest, vulnerable, and meaningful to me. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see that resonate with audiences through exhibitions and collections in different countries.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of my favorite childhood memories is traveling with my parents. They loved taking me to different places, and those trips sparked my imagination from a very young age. I would come home with so many ideas that I couldn’t wait to turn into drawings.
I remember one trip in particular. I was so tired that I fell asleep in my dad’s arms while he carried me home. When I woke up, I was suddenly inspired by everything I had seen during the journey. I was so eager to draw that, instead of waiting for paper, I started sketching with my finger on my dad’s back while he was still carrying me. He quickly realized I was pretending to still be asleep, but instead of saying anything, he just smiled because he knew I was excited to create.
Looking back, I think that moment says a lot about who I was as a child. Traveling inspired my creativity, and I couldn’t wait to express those ideas through art. It’s something that has stayed with me ever since.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chloechen.portfoliobox.net/
