“When I was really little, I wanted to be one of those stackable chairs that you see in a school auditorium,” Felicia Chiao say. “I thought they looked nice.” This childhood memory forms the basis for a playful drawing in which Chiao’s characteristic characters stack on top of each other. This imaginary world is layered, with calendars and clocks emerging from the wall in dense stacks, while stacks of books and plates rest on the floor.
Chiao is known for her warm illustrations that capture emotions and the variations of mental health through surreal, flowery scenes. Working in pencil, ink and watercolor, the artist creates compositions that feel both timeless and indicative of our current times, where the concerns and trials of today’s life emerge through curious characters.
In addition to her largely domestic scenes, Chiao has also expanded her growing collection of New Year’s drawings, which feature the animal of the year against a gilded and crimson background.
Play and coercion also play a prominent role in the artist’s approach. “I had a really cool collaboration with Heath Ceramics last year, and even though it was a very different medium than what I’m used to, I think it influenced my drawing process,” she says. “I’ve been experimenting with more mixed media (watercolor, colored pencil, markers, sometimes a little gouache or gel pen).” The mats for frames are similar, as she enjoys the challenge of adapting the otherwise stark white material to her works.
In October, Chiao will open a solo show with Harman Projects and has several exhibitions planned in the coming years. She offers a variety of prints her shopand you can stay up to date with her latest works and collaborations Instagram.
