Bridging Cultures Through Brushstrokes: Mengyi Wang’s Cross-Cultural Journey in Contemporary Art

Interview with Mengyi Wang

1. Please tell us something about your background and your art journey so far.

I am a cross-cultural contemporary artist specializing in acrylic on canvas, and I value art as a medium of self expression as well as a reflection of my cross-cultural journey. Having grown up and lived in various countries, including China, the UK, and the U.S., I began exploring different art practices at a young age. Since then my journey as an artist started and found, and I have always been captivated by the ability to express myself by picking up my paint brushes. My years studying Art and Film & Media Studies at UC Irvine and Global Communication at London School of Economics in London and University of Southern California in Los Angeles established me as an artist and exposed me to diverse cultural perspectives. These experiences have shaped my appreciation and incorporation of a wide range of elements into my artwork, both personally and professionally. I realized that picking up my pen and paintbrushes goes beyond merely depicting natural objects, and it has become a lens through which I reflect and convey my narrative storytelling in my acrylic paintings through multi-cultural layers.

These experiences have shaped me as a transnational and international artist and encouraged me to explore my artwork through an innovative blend of modern impressionism and traditional Chinese art. Throughout my artistic journey, I am very grateful for the awards, features and opportunities I have received locally, nationally, and internationally. It is also been a thrilling journey to have my paintings featured in globally-distributed media, including the US-based VoyageLA Magazine and ShoutoutLA Magazine, UK-originated Artist Talk Magazine, the Ukraine-based Artwork Gallery, the Netherlands-printed Visual Art Journal, and Spain-based Al-Tiba9 Contemporary Art Magazine.

2. Can you tell us more about the theme in your art and your inspiration?

My acrylic on canvas paintings present a view of narrative storytelling that spans the past, present, and future, to which I have a strong personal connection, such as memories, experiences, and the influences that have inspired me. Nature, animals, and landscape are frequently featured as central elements in my paintings.

My painting series “When Modern Impressionism Meets Traditional Chinese Art” is the main body of work I am best known for, which I combine two different art styles and fusion relationships together to reflect my cross-cultural heritage. Under the influence of my unique cross-cultural background, it has shaped me as an artist and also set me and my artworks apart from others. Born in China, lived in the UK, and residing in the States, I absorb the tremendousness of the historical capital, the glamourness of classic art and the fantasy of Disneyland. This painting series reflects my artistic voice and bridges my cultural experiences. In this series, I honor my roots while embracing new influences to create a healing process with balanced color palettes featuring various green hues as well as vivid pink and purple shades. These warm color palettes aim to present a healing viewing experience and invite the viewers to a calm and positive journey no matter where they are when engaging with these pieces.

Nature and landscapes have always been my major inspirational source for my paintings. Seeing the beautiful lotuses bloom at the Huntington Library in LA, I especially recall my childhood memories spent with my family at the Summer Palace in Beijing, admiring the lotus-filled ponds. This connection has profoundly shaped my identity as an Asian woman artist living in the U.S., inspiring me to create my piece “Lotus in Memory.”

3. How does your art life impact other parts of your life?

Balancing my fusion of art styles has always been crucial not only to my art life but also to other parts of my life. Admiring nature is something I deeply love and an essential part of my creative journey. The yellow warbler that often stopped by my window in the mornings during spring inspired my piece “Velvet Sage in Memory.” Watching the little bird flutter its wings and sing by the window became the highlight of my day and I always look forward to its return the next day or even next spring. The yellow warbler has since become one of the most important elements in my artworks. Since then, I’ve started to pay more attention to the small beauties and surprises in my life, also realizing there are so many kinds of flowers blooming that I had never noticed before. My art life has given me countless opportunities to discover the beauty of everyday moments and to find joy in nature’s quiet treasures.

4. Tell us about your best experience in the art world so far.

While on this artistic journey, I’m incredibly grateful for every experience I’ve had so far. Being able to exhibit my work globally, including the U.S., China, Canada, and the UK is not only a highlight of my artistic journey, but also allows me to connect with audiences through my work and create something that resonates emotionally or intellectually. Having my paintings to showcase at the Huntington Beach Art Center as part of the Centered on the Center 2025 exhibition to celebrate 30 years of the art center creates an unique opportunity for my work to connect with audiences who share similar cultural backgrounds, as well as with minorities living in the States. On the other hand, I am beyond grateful that my paintings were selected into the "Fusion" – 2025 International New Contemporary Art Exhibition in China giving me the chance to share my narrative art and my cross-cultural stories in my home.

5. What are you working on at the moment and are there any upcoming events you would like to talk about?

At the moment, I am continuing to work on my main painting series, creating new pieces to further explore the fusion of modern impressionism and traditional Chinese art. Each new painting is a new exploration of everyday moments that have been embodied with identity, memory, and nature. I’m also looking forward to bringing my exhibition to Beijing, a city that holds many of my precious memories, where my art and personal journey will come full circle and where memories meet the place that first shaped my story.

Website: https://mengyigracewang.wixsite.com/arts

Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/gracewangsart/