Drawn to the perfected techniques of the old masters, Calgary-based visual artist Yu Chen explores life lived between cultures.
Born and raised in China, Chen later received training in both China and the United States, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree from Guangxi Arts Institute and Western Oregon University.
Now situated in Calgary, Chen’s work reflects a deep engagement with both Eastern and Western artistic traditions, brought together through a contemporary lens as Western painting techniques fuse with Eastern themes and visual elements in her work.
“The balance I create between East and West, and between history and today, forms the foundation of my artistic approach. Through this process, I examine how Chinese heritage continues to exist and adapt in the present,” she explains.
Oil painting sits at the core of Chen’s artistic language as she explores the medium for its depth, richness and flexibility.
“I’m drawn to how oil painting creates depth, rich colour, vibrancy and flexibility. It allows me to express realism in a way that feels natural to me.”
Thematically, Chen’s work focuses on traditional Chinese culture and personal experiences, with a particular focus on her relationship to her Han heritage.
Through portraiture and still-life painting, the talented artist explores Chinese history and Eastern cultural narratives within Western painting techniques, an intersection she believes remains relatively under explored.
Traditional clothing, textiles and symbolic elements frequently appear in her compositions, with women wearing Hanfu often positioned as central figures.
In recent years, Chen’s practice has expanded beyond the studio to include community-based and multicultural projects.
While oil painting remains central, she has increasingly turned to portraiture as a way to connect people across cultural backgrounds.
This interest has led to Chen’s Hanfu life drawing sessions, which have evolved into an extension of her artistic research. Local artists are invited to draw from a live model dressed in traditional Hanfu, representing garments and styles from different historical periods.
“Through these drawing sessions, artists engage directly with Hanfu, building understanding and learning through close observation,” Chen explains.
The sessions encourage participants to create work inspired by traditional clothing while developing a deeper appreciation for its cultural and historical significance.
Chen is also committed to sharing her technical knowledge with emerging painters. For those learning oil painting, Chen wants artists to understand and appreciate the importance of the medium itself.
“Oil painting has many different techniques, such as direct painting, wet-on-wet, dry painting, and combinations of wet and dry approaches,” she explains.
“To use oil paint well, it’s important to know how the material behaves and how to work with it properly, so the work can last over time.”
Chen believes establishing a solid foundation built on technique allows artists greater freedom as their practice develops.
“Once you have a basic understanding of the techniques and materials, you can then focus more fully on painting itself,” she adds.
Chen plans to continue developing her portrait-based practice through a series of artist residencies. She is currently an Artist-in-Residence at Werklund Centre until April, followed by the HOME Residency at Sparrow ArtSpace from July to August. She caps off the year with a residency with the Calgary Allied Arts Foundation in September and October.
These opportunities will support the continued growth of her ongoing project, Portraits of Belonging.
The series brings together artists and subjects from diverse cultural backgrounds, using portraiture as a way to share personal stories and explore identity, home and belonging.
“Through collaboration, the work is shaped by learning from one another—both giving and receiving through the creative process,” Chen adds.
As the project evolves, Chen hopes to expand Portraits of Belonging into a globally connected initiative, using portraiture as a tool for cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
“I want to continue using portraiture to build meaningful connections across cultures.”
Header image: Yu Chen, "Hanfu girl with a Pearl Earring"