Today we’d like to introduce you to Suyao Tian.
Hi Suyao, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Before coming to the United States, I worked full-time in China as an executive administrator while also teaching music education at college in GuangZhou.
In 2011, I made the life-changing decision to come to the United States on a student visa. I arrived with two suitcases, but as soon as I landed, I lost one of them. In many ways, my American journey began with just one suitcase.
Since then, I have earned both my bachelor’s degree and my master’s degree. Today, I am a professional artist, independent curator, and educator. Most importantly, I have built a beautiful life with my loving husband, our wonderful son, our sweet dog, many dear friends, and a deep connection to the community that has welcomed and supported me.
Looking back, losing that suitcase became a symbol of starting over with very little. Through perseverance, hard work, and the support of my community, I was able to build a new life, a fulfilling career doing what I love, and a family and community that mean everything to me.
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?
Imagine having to rebuild your entire life from the beginning on you own. Like many immigrants, I had to start over and build everything from the ground up. It was extremely hard, but the journey has also been filled with passion, love, and support. The people I met and the experiences I gained made even the most difficult moments meaningful and gave me the strength to keep moving forward. While it has never been an easy road, it has been a deeply rewarding one.
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?
Suyao Tian is a professional artist based in the Twin Cities, MN. She currently serves as adjunct faculty at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She is the founder and owner of Viewpoint Gallery, an Executive Board member of Art Buddies.
She earned her BA from the University of Central Arkansas and her MFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. As both an independent curator and a water-based media abstract painter, her professional practice spans creative leadership and artistic production. She is represented by the renowned Claire Oliver Gallery in New York City and MAIA Contemporary Art Gallery in Mexico City.
Her work has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally, and her paintings are included in the permanent collections of prestigious museums, institutions, and distinguished collectors, such as the North Dakota Museum of Art, the Minnesota Museum of American Art, the University of Minnesota, and Fidelity Investments, among others.
She has collaborated with MSP International Airport, the Art in Embassies Program of the U.S. Department of State, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). In the commercial sector, she has partnered with leading companies including Target, Starbucks, West Elm, Room & Board, and BOND International Design Agency, among others.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think there will be so many incredible things ahead for the art world, and for me and my art as well. We are living in a time of rapid change, where everything evolves so quickly that it’s difficult to predict what will happen in the next five or ten years—or even next year.
What I do know is that as long as I’m alive, I will be an artist. I already feel like I am living my dream. Now, it’s no longer about reaching that dream—it’s about continuing to grow, explore, and expand it in unlimited ways. I may achieve things that are even greater than I can imagine today, so I don’t like to limit myself with fixed goals. Instead, I simply focus on doing my very best with every opportunity, every challenge, and every day! I’d love to see myself to discover how far I can go, how much I can grow as an artist, and how much beauty, connection, and meaning I can create through both my art and my life.
Pricing:
- My original works are available in a variety of sizes
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.suyaotian.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suyaotian/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suyao.tian/
