Meet Yuchen Lu | Visual Artist/Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yuchen Lu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yuchen, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born and raised in China. My grandparents are artisans from a town famous for porcelain, growing up my family always has vases in our home. They fled the Cultural Revolution in search of better opportunities, eventually settling in Beijing where I was born. Growing up, our home always has vases and traditional Chinese paintings and calligraphy, delicate objects that carried stories from the past. My childhood is nothing special. Like most kids in China, I spent most of my early years in school. My father recognized my artistic talent early on and would share the stories behind the vases in our home, hoping I would carry on our family’s creative legacy. At the same time, like many in my generation, I was captivated by contemporary art and media — influenced by cartoons, comics, and even video games. These shaped my imagination and made me curious about how art could speak to the present moment.

Moving to New York to study at the School of Visual Arts marked a turning point. It was a difficult leap for me. I faced cultural dissonance and uncertainty. But I am not the only one. There are many people from all over the world who come here carrying the same dream. Over four years in art school I’ve learned so much, from mastering fundamental techniques to exploring my own artistic practice. It pushed me to re-think my voice as an artist. People around the me and the city also inspired me a lot. I’ve always wanted to be an artist since I was a child, I loved drawing so much. In many ways, I’m still exploring what that path looks like, finding new ways to express what feels true to me. My work now merges the traditions of my heritage with a modern lens, exploring themes of surreal and reinvention. My work now merges the traditions of my heritage with a modern lens, exploring themes of surreal and reinvention.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It might be the unique sense of Eastern rhythm in my image, or the subtle mix of Eastern and Western sensibilities. I tend to use soft and luminous colors, intricate and refined lines — they often present in my work. Many times, I depict subjects that don’t have a clear identity, rivers, sheep, mushrooms, and various plants — things without a specific nationality or tied to a particular time. There are also mythological elements, which help to create a mysterious, dreamlike atmosphere. I often portray symbols from my hometown — goldfish, bamboo, such particular Asian motifs frequently appear in my work. I’m like these simple yet beautiful things, they carry a quiet poetry that tells stories about time and memory. In terms of form, I draw inspiration from traditional Chinese ink painting, the highly linear aesthetics of 1980s Chinese picture books, early 20th-century art movements, and Japanese art — all of which have influenced my visual language and personal aesthetic.

The journey has not been easy. Art is a path that requires immense patience and conviction, especially now, when the widespread use of AI-generated imagery has made the space for original art even more fragile. In the beginning, I was submitting work, applying for opportunities, and sending out emails almost every day — over the years, I must have sent out at least a thousand applications. The process was lonely, but I’m grateful I didn’t give up. Gradually, I found my own audience and began to encounter clients who appreciate talent and people who genuinely resonate with my work. To me, that is the most precious part.

I hope people can feel a kind of emotional resonance in my work. Whether the image is simple or more specific, something that evokes a sense of familiarity or a feeling that hasn’t yet been put into words. For me, art is a way of offering beauty to the world—a moment of calm, a sense of wonder. I find joy in the creative process itself; Could be time alone apartment, have music on and simply focus on drawing for hours. When I open the window I can hear the endless hum of the city, and in that moment I feel grounded, present, and part of something larger. I hope my work resonate with those navigating their own sense of belonging. Art is a long-term act of listening and expression. I hope to continue creating work with warmth and passion.

Most rewarding part:
I enjoy seeing my work appear in public spaces, billboard, museums, shops… there’s a quiet satisfaction in witnessing something that once existed only in my sketchbook as an idea come to life in the real world. I think for anyone, in any field, there’s a big sense of fulfillment when seeing an idea lands. I find joy in commercial collaborations with brands or institutions. I like when art takes shape in the context of real-world applications, seeing it brings a commercial value and liked by more audience. There’s something powerful about blending artistic expression with commercial outcomes — when a piece retains its soul while becoming part of a larger, shared experience.

When I’m creating, I constantly seek inspiration from other artists across disciplines—music, painting, architecture, photography. I find it incredibly inspiring how different art forms can speak to each other across time and space. Art to me is a language that creates bridges between people. I hope my work can carry that same energy. Whenever I get comments, message, likes, its not about the number but the sense of connection is one of the most rewarding part to me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If it’s NYC, I like to hang out between Lower Manhattan and the K-Town area. One of my favorite days starts in Chinatown and winds through SoHo, there are so many interesting shops and restaurants hidden along the way. Then I like to walk all the way up to Washington Square Park. What fascinates me about Lower Manhattan is how clearly different districts are defined. Walking through them feels like crossing time zones or culture zones. Growing up in Beijing, I’ve never seen Chinese culture presented in quite the same way as I have in these overseas Chinatowns. It’s oddly nostalgic, familiar yet distant, like a version of something that got frozen in time. It’s so old-fashioned in a meta modern city that feels poetic to me.

If I’m looking for artistic inspiration, it is the MET Museum. I’m drawn to classical art. If time allow, I can spend days wondering there. At night maybe walk through Midtown to see the city lights. Sit at Madison Square Park watching the mix of people passing by. I enjoy that quiet pause in the middle of a noisy city.

Website: https://yuchenartt.cargo.site

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuchenartt/

Other: https://www.behance.net/yuchenillus

Image Credits
Yuchen Lu (My own work)