Meet Zheyi Zhang

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zheyi Zhang. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zheyi below.

Zheyi, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

Many people think that artistic creation depends on inspiration—and while there’s some truth to that, it’s far from the whole story. I’ve never really had a problem with “creative drought.” My real struggle is having too many artistic ideas and not enough time to bring them to life. My notebooks are packed with plans and concepts. So when it comes to the question of how to stay creative, I’d say I’m a pretty good person to ask.
As an artist, your work is a full-time, all-the-time commitment. Every moment of your life can be part of your creative process—what you see, hear, think, and experience, even the scenes that play out in your dreams. It’s worth asking yourself whether any of it could connect to your art. It’s like having an inner set of strings pulled tight, ready to produce music at any moment. When that kind of inner awareness becomes second nature, you naturally sharpen your sensitivity, and creative block stops being a concern. Time is always moving, and the information you absorb keeps growing, so the ideas that come out of your mind will always evolve.
All you really need is a pen—or your phone—to capture those flashes of insight whenever they hit. If you regularly organize your notes, you’ll find yourself with more than enough material to build something new.
For me, creativity also thrives in an environment that allows for free expression. That’s one of the main reasons I left the comfort zone where I’d already made a name for myself and moved to New York.
If I ever feel the need to recharge my creative mindset, travel works wonders. I don’t rely on travel to stay inspired, but I’ve never regretted a trip. I always come back feeling refreshed, and that mental reset is a definite boost for my creative work.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’ve been living in New York for two years now since immigrating to the U.S., but I’ve been an artist in China for over 20 years. Here in New York, I spend my days painting, writing, and learning English.
The first time I saw and used a New York MetroCard, I studied that small card closely—its yellow background, blue lettering, and black magnetic strip. I kept wondering: how could I use this to create a painting or a sculpture? What should I depict? What shape could a sculpture take? These questions stayed with me constantly.
Whenever I saw interesting moments on the subway or bus, I’d ask myself: could the people and events I encounter within the New York transit system become my subject? Every place the MTA took me, every interesting scene I encountered—I could capture it on a used MetroCard.
That’s how I began experiencing the city while creating art at the same time. In just two and a half years, I’ve completed visual diaries, piece after piece, and held three solo exhibitions in New York.
My ongoing art project, “Here & There,” continues to expand. In addition to my own work, I now listen to stories from New Yorkers—or former New Yorkers—and illustrate their memories of the city on MetroCards.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

As an artist, I deeply understand that art doesn’t fail. As long as you believe in yourself, the path you’ve chosen will always have room to go deeper. That’s why I believe perseverance plays a crucial role in achieving success. Whether or not recognition comes your way, keep pushing forward, keep digging deeper. I once spent an entire week painting on a small MetroCard. I stayed patient and, in the end, achieved a result I was truly satisfied with. Now, that tiny painting has been printed on hoodies, and I often see people wearing them as they walk the streets of New York.
Empathy is also an essential quality in artistic creation. Human beings are inherently social creatures, and developing a strong sense of empathy has greatly enriched my art. Beyond empathizing with friends, family, and strangers on the streets of New York, I even try to put myself in the place of a dog on the subway, the plants in Central Park, or the old tree in my backyard. This ability to shift perspectives helps me observe things in a unique way. It’s a skill that gives my painting and writing an extra edge.
When it comes to knowledge, I have a particular sensitivity to history. What may seem like an ordinary subway station beneath your feet, or a nondescript street corner, becomes something entirely different when you add a historical lens. With the context of a timeline, you can uncover more information and understand the layers of events that have occurred in the same place over different periods. Maintaining a curiosity about the past is a powerful way to find the extraordinary in the seemingly mundane.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’m looking for anyone with unforgettable memories of this city. I want to hear your stories from the past and see your old photos or videos. If possible, I’d like to paint your memories onto MetroCards. The MTA is now promoting a new fare system, and after 30 years of use, these MetroCards are being phased out. Fewer and fewer people are using them. By painting people’s memories onto something that’s about to become history, I’m continuing my ongoing art project.
My email is [email protected]. If you have a New York story—your own or one that left a lasting impression on you—please send me an email with some related photos.
I’m also seeking partnerships with art institutions, museums and galleries that are interested in my work. “Here & There” is a long-term project that needs support from more people and spaces to preserve and exhibit these pieces. I hope more people in the art world can help me bring this project to life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zheyizhang-art.com
• Instagram: @zhangzheyi90
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/100008285565476/

Image Credits

Zheyi Zhang