Since her early 20's Xiao Lu Liu (referred to as Lu below) started creating art to explore the idea of the inner self. It led to a series of story telling images of the true self, the false self and the gap between the two. In her art she describes the painful reality of this gap by creating imaginary characters and creatures engaging in seemingly mysterious and sometimes absurd acts. Thought seemingly mysterious, Lu's images are symbolic and meaningful. With these images Lu analyzes the root of the false self through parent-child relationship as well as the historic and social background for child development and individual identity forming in China, the country she is from. Unseen trauma has always been an undertone in Lu's work. Thought dark realities can be found in her imagery at times, there is an expressed hope for the impending awakening of the true self for her characters.

While her subject matter can seem tragic, Lu never stop having fun with her art. In fact she believes playfulness is one of the most meaningful and important parts of art creation. Lu celebrates playfulness in subject matters and in visual forms. The artist tries to find the delicate line that connects playfulness and deep meanings. And in her opinion, through a state of play, art seems to generate a great healing energy that enables us humans to rediscover, revive, and reinvent ourselves again and again.

Xiao Lu Liu studied studio art at the University of North Texas and received a BFA degree in Printmaking. She is currently represented by Ro2 Art Gallery in Dallas, TX since 2018.

Contact: xiaoluliuart@gmail.com