Meet Xinyi Yang

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Xinyi Yang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Xinyi, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

As an illustrator, I feel the most uncertain and least confident when I create using a new medium or tool that departs from the traditional 2D format. I once used laser cutting to create a physical dollhouse. At that point, the project had completely departed from the realm of illustration — it had become an installation, not a drawing on paper. But what kept me going was the belief in the idea of bringing a dollhouse to life. Whenever the laser cutting process brought technical difficulties or moments of frustration, that vision gave me energy. It gave me the confidence to keep pushing forward and to solve each problem as it came. To me, confidence comes from a powerful inner conviction — a heartbeat of inspiration that guides and sustains you. It’s not something shaped by the outside world, but something born from within.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m Xinyi, a New York-based illustrator. I recently earned my MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts. My work captures moments of beauty and warmth found in everyday life — quiet, fleeting scenes that resonate slowly, like soft meringue melting on the tongue. In my daily life, I’m drawn to architecture, houses, and interior spaces. These forms often become seeds of inspiration — where architecture serves not only as structure, but as scene, atmosphere, and emotional space. In my illustrations, these environments are interdependent with the characters who inhabit them, forming subtle narratives of the everyday. My work has been recognized by American Illustration, the Society of Illustrators, 3×3, the World Illustration Awards, Communication Arts, and iJungle Illustration.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The first is curiosity. Staying curious keeps the work fresh and helps me approach uncertainty with openness instead of fear. The second is patience. I spent 4 months to do a physical dollhouse. Don’t wait for confidence. It’s okay to move forward even when you feel unsure. Trust that clarity will often follow action. The third is visual sensitivity. Train your eye through observation. Sketch from life, read magazines, visit museums… The more you notice, the more you can express.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

Before creating the characters for the dollhouse, I read Struwwelpeter, written and illustrated by Heinrich Hoffmann. The tales in the book emphasize strict obedience to parents and rules to avoid catastrophe — reflecting the rigid moral tone of 19th-century Europe. Though originally meant to educate children through fear, what stood out to me was the complex relationship between children and adults. This inspired how I developed my own characters — they are more like unconventional adults: independent thinkers, capable of making constructive decisions and working together. Wrapped in grotesque exaggeration, the book led me to reflect on how children might resist or push back against adult pressure — not through chaos, but through autonomy and quiet strength.
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Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.xinyiyangart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yangxinyii_/

Image Credits

Xinyi Yang