Check Out Yongqi Tang’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yongqi Tang.

Hi Yongqi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Thank you very much for offering this interview opportunity! To begin, let me introduce myself as a painter. I was born and raised in China and came to the US to attend college in 2015. Drawing has been a passion of mine since I was a child, and I would draw every day, wherever I went. However, despite this love for art, becoming an artist seemed vague and unrealistic to me, as there were no examples around me.

Additionally, the stigma of artists being poor and mentally unstable also frightened me. As a result, I pursued art as a side interest rather than a career choice until I graduated from college. During college, I double-majored in Psychology and Studio Art, assuming that I would eventually work in an office and continue creating art as a hobby.

However, as I took more art classes, engaged in the art community, and learned about available resources, I realized that being an artist was not impossible. I decided to devote myself to painting and applied for an MFA degree. Last year, I completed my MFA degree without any idea of what would happen in the future, but I committed to continuing to create new paintings even if I wasn’t as widely exposed as I hoped to be.

To my surprise and delight, many opportunities presented themselves to me after I graduated. I had the chance to teach as an adjunct at the University of Washington, completed a residency at Field Project NY and Amazon, and was featured in New American Paintings. In 2023, I have three solo exhibitions, including one in Europe! When I look back on the struggles I faced in the past, I can’t believe that I’m now living my dream of being a full-time artist. It fills me with pride and joy to have come this far.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I am very lucky and privileged to say that I have a relatively smooth road compared to others. Thanks to my family, I didn’t have to worry about rent and tuition. I am also very grateful to be seen and showcased by the galleries since I graduated last year. I think most of my struggles come from my immigration status. Living in the United States without citizenship and a green card could pose a lot of difficulties. For example, I could not visit my hometown for a few years due to the travel restriction during Covid.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have always been keenly interested in painting and drawing, and while I enjoy working with various subjects, my greatest fascination lies with figurative works. Since childhood, I have been drawn to manga characters and later, to the figures depicted in European classical paintings. I find the psychological impact of portraiture to be truly remarkable.

As a result, I often create group portraits, usually in the form of large-scale oil paintings, in order to tell a narrative. My goal is to create paintings that tell a story like a movie, allowing people to take the time to wonder and immerse themselves in the world that I have created. It brings me great satisfaction to see viewers become engaged in the narratives I have created through my art.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Although I am not currently living in LA, it has always been one of the few places that I have wanted to call home. I plan to move there in a few years, as I have heard that LA boasts one of the most diverse and vibrant art scenes in the United States. I believe that by basing my career in LA, I will have more opportunities to showcase my work and connect with other artists and art enthusiasts.

While New York City is also a viable option, I find myself gravitating towards LA more due to its lower cost of living. Additionally, I appreciate the size of the city, which would allow me to find a spacious studio to accommodate my work at a more affordable price. I am excited about the prospect of living and creating art in such a dynamic and thriving city.

Contact Info:

• Website: ichibanstudio.blog
• Instagram: @yongqiichiban

Image Credits
Mikey Baratta