GRACE CHANG
Art has never just been a hobby for me; it's how I see, feel, and talk to people. I was interested in how color and texture could say things that words couldn't from a young age. I eventually learned that art isn't only about making things seem nice; it's also about telling stories, asking questions, and getting people to perceive the world in new ways. Making art lets me think about who I am, what it means to be a woman, and how beautiful people and nature can be.
Femininity and the rituals of beauty are two of the main ideas in my art. I often look to cosmetics for inspiration. It's not simply a way to change my appearance; it's also an art form in its own right. Lipstick, eyeshadow, and blush are ways to show who you are, feel powerful, and meet societal expectations. I want people to think about how society defines beauty and how people can take it back for themselves by putting these things into my art. My work doesn't show femininity in just one way. It can be strong and weak, old-fashioned and new, all at the same time. My art looks at how cosmetics and beauty culture can represent both weakness and strength, as well as how they show the identities we choose to display to the world.
I like to try out both traditional and mixed media when it comes to technique. I paint and sketch, but I also add depth to my work by using layering, collage, and texture. Sometimes I even use pictures of makeup and design aspects from beauty products as references. Color is a big part of my process. I use color to show how I feel as well as to make things look good. A strong pink or red could signify strength and confidence, while softer colors could mean tenderness or nostalgia. I attempt to find a balance between visual richness and emotional resonance with these choices, which draws the observer into the levels of meaning.
The way I connect the intensely personal with the broadly cultural is what makes my art stand out. A lot of the time, I start my work by thinking about my own experiences as a young woman trying to figure out who I am, how to express myself, and what people expect of me. I also want my art to go out so that people can perceive their own stories in it. Makeup and femininity are universal ideas, but each person sees them in their own way, based on their culture, memories, and past. I want people to talk about these interpretations of my work, so that art becomes a discussion instead of a one-way street.
I get ideas from a lot of different areas. Fashion and beauty culture interests me since they are always changing, but they also have a lot of history behind them. The colors of flowers and the shine of seashells are only two examples of how nature may inspire us. I am also inspired by artists who utilize their work to push limits, celebrate who they are, and make room for new voices.
My objective for the future is to keep working on my artistic voice and share my work with more people. I want to make art that makes people think about femininity, beauty, and identity, and I want to bring these conversations into galleries, schools, and community spaces. In the end, I consider my art as a way to acknowledge the beauty of the world around me, challenge its limits, and think of new possibilities.
