Michi Geng

Michi Geng

Degree Completed

BFA in Graphic Design

Artist Statement

I explore ideas of nostalgia and identity as an interdisciplinary artist and designer. I incorporate pop cultural references from Asia and the United States as a reflection of my own upbringing in China and living in North Texas. My artwork deals with childish themes and quirky aesthetics to create a feeling of excitement and sentimentality.

Experimentation drives my creative process. I work both digitally and traditionally, creating paintings, photography, video, installation, and mixed media. I use unconventional methods whether it stems from material exploration or simply out of play. As an illustrator, I use color to draw the viewer’s attention and create a lighthearted mood that is in contrast to darker themes.

I am interested in the idea of mixing cultures in art and enjoy looking at artists who try to incorporate a part of themselves in their work. In my collaged paintings, I combine elements like cherry blossoms and the color red, taken directly from my Chinese name, to symbolize my personal life and Asian identity. Similarly, I combine digital and traditional processes to reference this hybrid experience.

The series Red reflects a more personal approach to art making. Red is a group of paintings and photographic collages that I created during quarantine, in my final semester of college. I used my depressive Covid experience to rid myself of negative energy through art. Working on these pieces was helpful because I felt like I was able to channel my negative thoughts onto paper in a healthy expression.

Insta: michigeng