XiangLong Li (b.1995 HuangShi, China; lives in Brooklyn, New York) earned his BFA in Illustrated Book from the China Central Academy of Fine Arts and his MFA in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts. His work involves the appropriation of symbols to design and adapt social events and daily life, focusing on the cultural dislocation and fragmentation of information brought about by modern communication methods such as pop culture and internet images. His works, which include paintings, videos, and 3D model animations, reconstruct a kind of observation and reflection that lies outside mainstream language through seemingly playful and absurd images. Xianglong’s work has been exhibited internationally, with solo shows including Gas Station X: Premium Gas at Vanguard Gallery, Shanghai (2024), East Hollywood at SNAP, Shanghai (2023) and Stay home, make your contribution to the society at Latitude Gallery, New York (2021). His art has also been featured in prominent group exhibitions and art fair, including Hyper-Meme at LivingSkin, New York (2025), MOORDN ART FAIR, Guangzhou (2024), West Bund Art & Design Perspective, Shanghai (2023), Beijing Contemporary Art Fair, Beijing (2023), Double Trouble at VillageOneArt, New York (2022), Night Flight at Royal Society of American Art, New York (2023), among others.

Can you tell us about your background and how you started your artistic journey?

I did my undergrad in illustration at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, China and later moved to New York to get my MFA from the School of Visual Arts. Art has meant different things to me at different points in life—but it’s always been there. It’s how I process the world, and over time, it’s become something that feeds me back with energy and clarity when I need it most.

How do you stay inspired and motivated to create new work?

Honestly, staying physically healthy helps a lot—I work out regularly. I also try to keep up with reading and watching films, which keeps my brain moving. But more than anything, I just try to be present in life. When you live—instead of rushing through things—inspiration naturally finds its way in.

How has your artistic style evolved over time?

The pandemic changed a lot for me. I couldn’t go to my studio, so I had to stop painting for a while. But that pause gave me space to explore other media—like video art and digital collage. I fell in love with screen aesthetics and internet culture, especially memes, and that started to bleed into my painting practice. Now, my work has more layers—visually and conceptually—and I think that time helped me discover a new language for myself.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative in your experience?

A lot of my work comes from everyday life—funny things I see, jokes between friends, or those weirdly intense feelings that hit when I’m alone and overthinking. I try to translate all of that into images. If someone sees one of my paintings and laughs at the hidden joke, or suddenly feels something deeper—that moment of connection is what I live for. That’s the most satisfying part of what I do.

How do you navigate being an artist across cultures? Does location influence your work?

I spend a lot of time in the street—with friends, doing dumb or slightly reckless things, especially when I’m in new places. I love drinking with people from different backgrounds. Alcohol lowers the barriers—suddenly it doesn’t matter if you speak the same language or not, you just connect. Some of my best ideas come from nights like that. Being between cultures has shaped how I think, how I joke, and how I paint.

What challenges have you faced as an artist, and how have you overcome them?

Money, first and foremost. Like a lot of artists, I didn’t have much when I started. I was working three jobs during the same period just to keep things going, and painting at night when I got home. Being an artist means constantly facing new obstacles, but also being stubborn enough not to give up. That constant push-and-pull—between survival and creation—is part of the life, and weirdly, part of the beauty too.

Text & photo courtesy of Xianglong Li

Website: https://www.xianglongli.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wakeupdragon/