Today we’d like to introduce you to Zi Xu.
Hi Zi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born on the little island province of Hainan, China, but immigrated to New Jersey, USA, when I was 5. I had always known that I was going to be an artist and drew nonstop from childhood to adulthood. I fell into the poster industry after graduating from art school in Maryland and eventually moved to LA. I now work as a freelance artist in the entertainment world, doing posters and illustrations for top clients and studios in movies, TV, and games.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely has not been smooth. I think it’s notoriously difficult to make a living or a career as an artist, and I’m only here through the grace and support of others, such as my family, peers, mentors, etc. One of my major early struggles was finding a unique visual style for my artwork – something that can only really be done through years of practice and studying from other artists one is inspired by. When I started out, I copied the art style of my friends and peers, thinking that what they liked was what I liked. That couldn’t be farther from the truth! I only began developing more of an independent voice when I began to critically look at the world around me as well as the media/artwork that I am personally drawn to.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an illustrator by trade, and my specialty is in illustrating and designing posters for various clientele in the entertainment world. Since launching my career, I have become a brand ambassador for Adobe, completed an artist residency in Iceland, illustrated a Star Wars mural for Lucasfilm, created cover art for limited edition SteelBook releases such as Akira Kurosawa’s Ran and Chad Stahelski’s John Wick 4, done gig posters for bands such as Metallica and The Smashing Pumpkins, and was a guest artist at New York Comic Con 2021. In 2023, I won a Gold Clio for my work on the John Wick 4 Artist Series and decided to broaden my artistic repertoire by launching a second career as a fashion model and actress.
Any big plans?
Last year, I made a commitment to try out acting and modeling – as someone who has always worked behind the scenes, I wanted to find out what it was like working in front of the camera! Well, as luck would have it, I was picked up by a talent agency and booked my first two jobs in December. I absolutely loved the experience and am excited to do more of it in 2024.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zixu.art/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziqqix/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ziqqix
Image Credits
Mona Miri
