Rosanna Xiaoyan Zhou is a Chinese digital media artist and UX designer based in Rhode Island. Her interdisciplinary practice explores identity, migration, cultural stereotypes, and the construction of the “other” through interactive installations, sound, and emerging technologies. By combining personal narratives with participatory experiences, her work invites audiences to question assumptions, engage in dialogue, and reconsider how identity is shaped across cultures.

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

My artistic background began during my undergraduate studies, where I focused primarily on interactive installations. I was interested in creating experiences that invited audiences to actively engage with the work rather than simply observe it. Through those projects, I became fascinated by the relationship between technology, participation, and human behavior. 

When I started graduate school, my practice gradually expanded into video and sound art. Working with these mediums allowed me to explore narrative, memory, identity, and atmosphere in different ways. I found that video and sound could communicate emotional and cultural experiences that weren’t always possible through physical installations alone. 

Today, my work combines these influences. I’m interested in using digital media to examine themes such as identity, cultural stereotypes, migration, and the experience of being perceived as “the other.” Whether through interactive installations, video, or sound, I aim to create immersive experiences that encourage audiences to reflect on their own assumptions and perspectives. 

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

I think my inspiration comes from having a clear core drive rather than waiting for ideas to appear. I’m constantly drawn to questions about identity, belonging, and how people navigate different cultural spaces. 

The people around me are a huge source of inspiration. I often find myself listening to the stories of immigrants and people from minority communities—their experiences of adapting to new environments, negotiating different identities, or feeling caught between cultures. Even small conversations or everyday moments can spark an idea for a new work. 

I’m interested in how these personal stories connect to larger social questions. Through my work, I explore how identity is shaped by culture, language, and the way we’re perceived by others. Those lived experiences keep my practice grounded and continually give me new perspectives to explore. 

What are the main themes or concepts you explore in your work? 

My work is deeply influenced by where I am physically and culturally. Every place I’ve lived has shaped the questions I ask and the stories I want to tell. I enjoy observing different cultures and how people perceive one another, because those everyday interactions often reveal larger social structures. 

What continues to inspire me is exploring themes of cultural identity, race, and human perception. I’m particularly interested in how ideas like “cultural identity” or “racial minority” are not fixed truths, but social constructs that are shaped by history, language, and power. As someone who has experienced migration, I’m also drawn to the complexities and dilemmas of the immigrant experience—feeling caught between cultures, navigating belonging, and constantly negotiating identity. 

Another recurring theme in my work is the relationship between language and identity. I’m fascinated by how language influences the way we see ourselves and how others perceive us. Through video, sound, and interactive media, I try to create experiences that encourage audiences to question their assumptions and reflect on how identity is formed through culture, communication, and perception. 

Can you describe a recent project or artwork that you are particularly proud of？ 

One of my recent projects is a sound installation called Stuttering. The work explores the experience of being a foreigner in another country, speaking a second language, being judged by the way you speak, and gradually losing confidence in your own voice. 

The project was inspired by a personal experience during a phone call with customer support. The representative asked for my name, so I spelled it out letter by letter. Because they couldn’t remember or understand it, I had to repeat it over and over again. After several attempts, I became so nervous that I actually started stuttering while spelling my own name. 

That moment stayed with me because it wasn’t just about miscommunication. It was about how language can shape your sense of identity and self-worth. When you have to constantly repeat yourself or justify your own name, you begin to question your confidence and even your sense of belonging. 

Although the project comes from a very personal experience, I think it’s also a universal one. Many immigrants, international students, and people who speak a second language have experienced similar moments of frustration, embarrassment, or invisibility. Through Stuttering, I wanted to transform that fleeting interaction into an immersive sound experience that allows audiences to feel the anxiety, repetition, and emotional weight of trying to make yourself understood. 

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

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as an artist is making deeply personal experiences resonate with a wider audience. Many of my works begin with moments from my own life, but I don’t want them to remain just autobiographical. I challenge myself to find the universal emotions and social questions within those experiences so that people from different backgrounds can connect with them. 

Another challenge is working across different mediums. My practice has evolved from interactive installations to video and sound art, and each medium requires a different way of thinking and storytelling. Rather than seeing that as a limitation, I’ve embraced it as an opportunity to experiment and let each project determine the medium that best expresses its ideas. 

What advice would you give to emerging artists trying to establish themselves? 

My biggest advice is to be honest with yourself. Make work that comes from your own curiosity and experiences, rather than trying to create what you think other people want to see. The most meaningful work often comes from asking questions that genuinely matter to you. 

I also think it’s important to have strong faith in what you’re doing. Being an artist means your work will be critiqued, questioned, and sometimes misunderstood. Not everyone will connect with your ideas, and that’s part of the process. If you truly believe in the questions you’re exploring and the reasons you’re making the work, you’ll be able to keep creating even when you face criticism or rejection. 

Text & photo courtesy of Rosanna Xiaoyan Zhou

Website: https://www.rosanna-xiaoyan-zhou.com