We’re delighted to welcome you back to Artist Spotlight. This week, we’re proud to spotlight @feliciachiao. Felicia brings a distinctive visual language that balances clarity and emotion, capturing everyday moments with intention and grace.
She created a character without hair, clothing, or defining traits, because identity shouldn’t be limited by labels.
We celebrate stories that exist beyond expectation, beyond roles, and beyond definition. Join us as we take a closer look at her journey and creative approach.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your artistic journey. And when did you start focusing on your signature illustration style?
I have been drawing ever since I was really little. I have always been the creative type and I loved drawing, painting, playing with clay, and trying out all sorts of mediums. I didn’t take it very seriously though until I took art classes in high school. I learned mostly photorealism around then and I went to college to study industrial design so I was all over the place. I was keeping sketchbooks for fun and my style pretty much developed on its own over time. I kept drawing what brought me joy or comfort and it turned into something bigger than I really planned.
2. How did this specific character first come to you? What was the original idea or need behind it?
It’s pretty much a stick figure for all intents and purposes. I wanted to create a character that would represent a person but I didn’t want to give it any defining features like clothes and hair. It’s really there as an empathy tool. You can draw a wonderful room and stop there, but once you put a figure in that room the viewer will start to imagine what that character is experiencing in its environment. It’s not me but it helps to convey emotions I have felt.
3. You often use a soft, muted color palette. How do these colors connect to or express your own inner feelings or state of mind?
I use drawing as a way to relax or stay calm, so naturally the colors would be on the soothing side. I also work on brown toned paper so that influences a lot of my color palette. I use what looks and feels good and over time I have gotten a lot better with colors. I used to only do black and white drawings!
4. When you’re not making art, what are you into—and does any of that show up in your work?
I live a pretty boring life outside of art. I love cooking, going on walks, going out to eat with friends, the usual stuff. I listen to a lot of music and watch movies too. I like to think that my art is a product of a good life. I see interesting things out in the world and I feel emotions from certain experiences that I bring back home into my drawings as a way to process it all.
5. Which artists have really shaped you, and what do you take from them?
I don’t really look at a lot of artists very often, I don’t want to accidentally copy their work or steal ideas that are not mine. As mentioned earlier though, I enjoy a lot of music and film and I think seeing people really excel in their own creative fields inspires me to want to make something of my own. I know the Gorillaz was a big influence on me in my younger years, seeing them combine music and art and storytelling was really mind blowing at the time. There’s also a short animation called La Maison En Petits Cubes by Kunio Kato that I think about even to this day. Obviously it’s not the one thing that shaped me, but works like that really have an impact.
6. Looking ahead, is there a particular project or creative goal that you're currently focused on achieving next?
I have never been able to guess what is coming next so I don’t try. I have kind of done everything I’ve wanted to so whatever comes next is a just a bonus. As long as I have enough income to live comfortably and draw whenever I want to then I am pretty happy. I never dreamed I would have gallery and museum shows all over the country or that I would get to collaborate with really cool brands like A24 and Heath Ceramics, so I am open to whatever is next!
