Art Portfolio
Under representational
Environmental
Narrative
Cultural
Escalation (2024)
Exhibition: Boundaries, New Museum Los Gatos (July 20 – October 6, 2024)
This piece depicts the intertwining forces of female power, emphasizing that women's identities transcend racial, cultural, and geographic boundaries. By showcasing resilience from history, struggles of the present, and hope for the future, the artwork highlights how female solidarity amplifies these forces, driving social change. (Medium: Acrylic)
The work addresses the struggles of women across racial and cultural lines, advocating for unified efforts to tackle universal issues like wage gaps, reproductive rights, and systemic inequality. This painting reflects the struggle of females from different nationalities and cultural backgrounds. However, most of the time, females fight for their rights as different subgroups, for example, Asian females, black females, white females, Hispanic females et cetera. Indeed, females with different cultural backgrounds would have different goals they want to fight for and different approaches they want to adopt. However, if we only think within our groups, it would weaken our power. The more efficient and useful way is to unify the entire female community, help each other regardless of race, and solve universal problems for all females—for example, unequal salary, pink tax, sexual harassment reproductive rights, and a lot more. Therefore, I wish to use this art piece to show females’ struggles and suffering that all races are facing.
Keep Balance in Pyramid (2024)
This work critiques social inequality and the oppressive nature of class rigidity. The composition and use of color convey a sense of tension and helplessness, reflecting how such structures constrain individual freedom and potential. (Medium: Acrylic)
Fear Becomes Big If You Don’t Face It (2024)
This painting invites viewers to reflect on their fears, encouraging them to confront these feelings for empowerment and growth. (Medium: Acrylic)
Exhibition: Limitless (Open Themed Show), Las Laguna Art Gallery, September 5 to 30, 2024
She is no longer in the shadow,
12/17/2022, Acrylic, 30” X 40”
This is a portrait of my roommate and friend Ruby. It shows her deep-minded changes in 2 years. She breaks the cage of life, and grabs freedom.
She saw the light,
11/17/2022, Acrylic, 16” X 20”
Exhibition: VOTE! (September 28 – November 3, 2024)
Works: She is No Longer in the Shadow; She Saw the Light
Theme: This exhibition centers around the theme of Vote, and my work uses female portraits to showcase the strength of women. The depiction of women emerging from darkness, symbolizes the power of rebirth from adversity, emphasizing that voting is a tool for changing the status quo, fighting for equality, and fostering hope for the future. The darkness represents oppression, challenges, or trauma, while the act of emerging signifies hope, growth, and infinite possibilities for what lies ahead.
My work not only reflects past struggles but also conveys an optimistic outlook toward the future. Voting may face various obstacles—such as social biases, systemic inequities, or lack of information—but, much like the women overcoming difficulties in my artwork, voters must remain steadfast, actively participate, and use their votes to create meaningful societal change.
Fibric, 04/12/2023, Charcoal, 30’’ x 40’’(left)
This is a drawing of practicing the natural form of the fibric. I try to feel the form while drawing instead of simulating it.
Cathay, 11/10/2016, Charcoal, 30” X 40”(right)
This is the figure drawing that I designed using body language to create a feeling that a character is finding light in the darkness.
Rose Factory, 2023, Ceramic, 10'' x 6.5'' x 3.5''
This Biography Mask, Rose Factory, is an artwork that artistically metaphores the issues of our society. The story narrated by this mask is set in a world dominated by a rose factory. The rose perfume produced by the factory boosts everyone's work efficiency and is addictive; once people start using it, they rapidly exhaust their lives until death. Everyone is reliant on the rose perfume made by the factory. In this world, the rich monopolize the perfume, inflating its price for the poor, who are then coerced into cheap labor in exchange for the rose perfume as their lifeline. On the mask's forehead, I depicted a visual representation of the factory, with billows of smoke rising from its chimneys, shrouded in the setting sun. One eye of the mask is dry, and shriveled, while the other sprouts two roses marred with rust spots, already wilting, signifying the person's impending death. Their tongue involuntarily extends, longing to catch the sweet dew of the roses.
Harbor Appetizer, 07/27/2022, Watercolor, 14” X 9”
This is the view of San Diego. I drew this landscape because it brings back memories. The Cafe stands lonely near the sea. The texture of the building tells its story.
We’ve been there before, 10/23/2022, Acrylic, 30’’x40’’
This painting conveys a feeling of peace. A peaceful place that could be found when far from urban areas.
Urban, a body of work 10/30/2022, Acrylic, 8”x10” (above)
This is an urban architectural graphic of Portland, where the predominant graphic language consists of straight lines and geography. I aim to use minimal depth to evoke the sensation of exploring the city, while also conveying the essence of the fundamental architectural graphical language of downtown Portland.
Geometry Urban, 11/13/2022, Acrylic, 16”x20” (right)
This is a painting aimed at finding peace and tranquility in the city.
Exhibition: Fault LineArts, Wefunder, March 4, San Francisco, 2023
Pacifica, 10/01/2022, Acrylic, 20”x16”
This painting portrays a landscape view of the City of Pacifica, where mountains blend with the beach, and the beach merges with the sea. The graphical language in this painting creates a contrast by employing diagonal textures in the sky against the curvy textures for the mountains. This contrast illustrates the immense depth of nature, giving the audience an impression of just how small they are.
Form of a mountain, Collage
This collage artwork obviously illustrates the form of a mountain. However, these mountains, crafted with unconventional materials, possess their own distinctive characteristics. They strive to reach ever-greater heights, aspiring to conquer the top of the world. Though motionless, the textures imbue the mountains with an impression, a persistent inclination to never relinquish their quest for the universe's peak.
Wandering after school, 08/08/2022, Watercolor, 18”x12”
In a corner of the city under the light of the setting sun, viewers can see vibrant greenery climbing on fences and exuding freedom.
Her attention, 08/08/2022, Watercolor, 15” X 16”
This is a watercolor painting of my cat, Pepa. She behaves like a child, playing in the front yard, and when I call her name, she turns her head. Animals, or pets, are a part of human society and a part of the human family. I've depicted her from a perspective that portrays her as a substantial presence rather than a mere, cute pet. This vantage point conveys the idea that humans and their pets, as well as humans and animals, can share equal status.
High Tide, 07/20/2022, Watercolor, 12” X 9”
This landscape demonstrates a color scheme influenced by the sunset at the seashore.
Anxious, 2023, Ceramic, 15'' x 13'' x 6.75''
Anxious" is a ceramic sculpture depicting a wild cat sleeping. Intriguingly, the setting of the sculpture, the center of a road, is an integral part of the artwork. This environment highlights the impact of human construction on the natural habitats of wild animals, leading to their distress. The image of a cat sleeping in the middle of the road evokes a scene where the cat is basking in the sunshine on warm ground. Yet, it appears unaware of the artificial lights from cars and oblivious to the danger it is in. It is a sobering fact that one million animals die every day in vehicle collisions in the United States. Through this artwork, I aim to convey the significant influence of human activities on wild animals.
Growth
Gopro Commercial
Feature film Animation
Vision of Nature, 04/26/2023, Pencil, 12” X 16”
This is a drawing where I drew a still life flower, and sampled a background from a photograph.
Artichoke, 03/20/2023, Charcoal, 14’’ x 13’’
I am researching organic forms of plants, and using hatching technique in this painting.
Deviation,
05/21/2023, Charcoal, 15”x14”
This drawing is one of my still-life artworks. It is about over-care from a Chinese family where parents overcontrol their child.
Legacy, 12/2024
As a timeless classic of Chinese porcelain art, the blue-and-white porcelain floral motif permeates the creation of Yuhu Chun vases from different dynasties, providing a visual and cultural unity to the evolution of this vessel type. Although the form, proportions, and style of the Jade Pot Spring vases from each dynasty show significant differences, the use of the blue and white porcelain floral motifs allows these differences to reveal an inherent sense of coherence and harmony within a unified artistic medium.
This historically spanning blue and white floral pattern provides a shared cultural symbol for jade pot spring vases of different dynasties. It embodies Chinese porcelain art's technical inheritance and is a cultural link between the aesthetic styles and social values of different periods. This continuity allows the viewer to cross the barriers of time and feel the unchanging cultural spirit and creativity of the art of Chinese porcelain throughout the millennia of history when appreciating these jade pot spring vases.
Bio
Tangying Shen is an artist from China living in the Bay Area, San Bruno. She found inspiration in Leonardo Da Vinci's work at a young age. Because of this background, she has solid knowledge of perspective. The early exposure to classical art pieces fueled her determination to pursue an art career. As she grew up, she started favoring contemporary art, such as Picasso, which led her to pursue artistic ideas.
Since 2019, Tangying has been teaching art at the American Art Institute and Empire Preschool, and these experiences inspired her in drawing and painting. Her profound journey into painting commenced during the pandemic. Her commitment to social advocacy for underrepresented Asian groups is evident in her art exhibitions. At the Boundaries exhibit (New Museum Los Gatos), she presented Upgrade to discuss women’s challenges and the significance of public platforms. In Vote!, she showcased She’s No Longer in the Shadows; She Sees the Light, amplifying the voices of Asian women. In Secret Public Self, she explored hidden emotions with Harbor Appetizer, while her interactive work, Fear Gets Bigger If You Don’t Face It, encouraged viewers to confront their fears in the Limitless exhibit (Las Laguna Art Gallery). These projects have enriched her understanding of how art facilitates conversation and inspires social change. Much of her work was also featured in the Fault Line Arts exhibition (Wefunder, San Francisco) in 2023. She exhibited her watercolor and acrylic paintings at the Academy of Art University Gallery, Art Space of Wefunder, and Redline Art Label event in 2023.
Tangying is pursuing an Associate of Arts degree in Studio Art at the College of San Mateo, seeking additional foundational art training, a degree expected in 2025. She already holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Academy of Art University, specializing in storyboard illustration, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree as a 3D animator.
Escalation (2024)
Exhibition: Boundaries, New Museum Los Gatos (July 20 – October 6, 2024)
This piece depicts the intertwining forces of female power, emphasizing that women's identities transcend racial, cultural, and geographic boundaries. By showcasing resilience from history, struggles of the present, and hope for the future, the artwork highlights how female solidarity amplifies these forces, driving social change. (Medium: Acrylic)
The work addresses the struggles of women across racial and cultural lines, advocating for unified efforts to tackle universal issues like wage gaps, reproductive rights, and systemic inequality. This painting reflects the struggle of females from different nationalities and cultural backgrounds. However, most of the time, females fight for their rights as different subgroups, for example, Asian females, black females, white females, Hispanic females et cetera. Indeed, females with different cultural backgrounds would have different goals they want to fight for and different approaches they want to adopt. However, if we only think within our groups, it would weaken our power. The more efficient and useful way is to unify the entire female community, help each other regardless of race, and solve universal problems for all females—for example, unequal salary, pink tax, sexual harassment reproductive rights, and a lot more. Therefore, I wish to use this art piece to show females’ struggles and suffering that all races are facing.
She is no longer in the shadow,
12/17/2022, Acrylic, 30” X 40”
This is a portrait of my roommate and friend Ruby. It shows her deep-minded changes in 2 years. She breaks the cage of life, and grabs freedom.
She saw the light,
11/17/2022, Acrylic, 16” X 20”
Exhibition: VOTE! (September 28 – November 3, 2024)
Works: She is No Longer in the Shadow; She Saw the Light
Theme: This exhibition centers around the theme of Vote, and my work uses female portraits to showcase the strength of women. The depiction of women emerging from darkness, symbolizes the power of rebirth from adversity, emphasizing that voting is a tool for changing the status quo, fighting for equality, and fostering hope for the future. The darkness represents oppression, challenges, or trauma, while the act of emerging signifies hope, growth, and infinite possibilities for what lies ahead.
My work not only reflects past struggles but also conveys an optimistic outlook toward the future. Voting may face various obstacles—such as social biases, systemic inequities, or lack of information—but, much like the women overcoming difficulties in my artwork, voters must remain steadfast, actively participate, and use their votes to create meaningful societal change.
Fear Becomes Big If You Don’t Face It (2024)
This painting invites viewers to reflect on their fears, encouraging them to confront these feelings for empowerment and growth. (Medium: Acrylic)
Exhibition: Limitless (Open Themed Show), Las Laguna Art Gallery, September 5 to 30, 2024
Keep Balance in Pyramid (2024)
This work critiques social inequality and the oppressive nature of class rigidity. The composition and use of color convey a sense of tension and helplessness, reflecting how such structures constrain individual freedom and potential. (Medium: Acrylic)
Rose Factory, 2023, Ceramic, 10'' x 6.5'' x 3.5''
This Biography Mask, Rose Factory, is an artwork that artistically metaphores the issues of our society. The story narrated by this mask is set in a world dominated by a rose factory. The rose perfume produced by the factory boosts everyone's work efficiency and is addictive; once people start using it, they rapidly exhaust their lives until death. Everyone is reliant on the rose perfume made by the factory. In this world, the rich monopolize the perfume, inflating its price for the poor, who are then coerced into cheap labor in exchange for the rose perfume as their lifeline. On the mask's forehead, I depicted a visual representation of the factory, with billows of smoke rising from its chimneys, shrouded in the setting sun. One eye of the mask is dry, and shriveled, while the other sprouts two roses marred with rust spots, already wilting, signifying the person's impending death. Their tongue involuntarily extends, longing to catch the sweet dew of the roses.
Anxious, 2023, Ceramic, 15'' x 13'' x 6.75''
Anxious" is a ceramic sculpture depicting a wild cat sleeping. Intriguingly, the setting of the sculpture, the center of a road, is an integral part of the artwork. This environment highlights the impact of human construction on the natural habitats of wild animals, leading to their distress. The image of a cat sleeping in the middle of the road evokes a scene where the cat is basking in the sunshine on warm ground. Yet, it appears unaware of the artificial lights from cars and oblivious to the danger it is in. It is a sobering fact that one million animals die every day in vehicle collisions in the United States. Through this artwork, I aim to convey the significant influence of human activities on wild animals.
Form of a mountain, Collage
This collage artwork obviously illustrates the form of a mountain. However, these mountains, crafted with unconventional materials, possess their own distinctive characteristics. They strive to reach ever-greater heights, aspiring to conquer the top of the world. Though motionless, the textures imbue the mountains with an impression, a persistent inclination to never relinquish their quest for the universe's peak.
High Tide, 07/20/2022, Watercolor, 12” X 9”
This landscape demonstrates a color scheme influenced by the sunset at the seashore.
Harbor Appetizer, 07/27/2022, Watercolor, 14” X 9”
This is the view of San Diego. I drew this landscape because it brings back memories. The Cafe stands lonely near the sea. The texture of the building tells its story.
Urban, a body of work 10/30/2022, Acrylic, 8”x10” (above)
This is an urban architectural graphic of Portland, where the predominant graphic language consists of straight lines and geography. I aim to use minimal depth to evoke the sensation of exploring the city, while also conveying the essence of the fundamental architectural graphical language of downtown Portland.
Geometry Urban, 11/13/2022, Acrylic, 16”x20” (right)
This is a painting aimed at finding peace and tranquility in the city.
Exhibition: Fault LineArts, Wefunder, March 4, San Francisco, 2023
Vision of Nature, 04/26/2023, Pencil, 12” X 16”
This is a drawing where I drew a still life flower, and sampled a background from a photograph.
Artichoke, 03/20/2023, Charcoal, 14’’ x 13’’
I am researching organic forms of plants, and using hatching technique in this painting.
Deviation,
05/21/2023, Charcoal, 15”x14”
This drawing is one of my still-life artworks. It is about over-care from a Chinese family where parents overcontrol their child.
Legacy, 12/2024
As a timeless classic of Chinese porcelain art, the blue-and-white porcelain floral motif permeates the creation of Yuhu Chun vases from different dynasties, providing a visual and cultural unity to the evolution of this vessel type. Although the form, proportions, and style of the Jade Pot Spring vases from each dynasty show significant differences, the use of the blue and white porcelain floral motifs allows these differences to reveal an inherent sense of coherence and harmony within a unified artistic medium.
This historically spanning blue and white floral pattern provides a shared cultural symbol for jade pot spring vases of different dynasties. It embodies Chinese porcelain art's technical inheritance and is a cultural link between the aesthetic styles and social values of different periods. This continuity allows the viewer to cross the barriers of time and feel the unchanging cultural spirit and creativity of the art of Chinese porcelain throughout the millennia of history when appreciating these jade pot spring vases.
Fibric, 04/12/2023, Charcoal, 30’’ x 40’’(left)
This is a drawing of practicing the natural form of the fibric. I try to feel the form while drawing instead of simulating it.
Cathay, 11/10/2016, Charcoal, 30” X 40”(right)
This is the figure drawing that I designed using body language to create a feeling that a character is finding light in the darkness.
We’ve been there before, 10/23/2022, Acrylic, 30’’x40’’
This painting conveys a feeling of peace. A peaceful place that could be found when far from urban areas.