Story & Lesson Highlights with Pei Ou of New York

Pei Ou shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Pei, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Beyond my professional work as an artist, I’ve been enjoying the freedom of making small personal sketches and paintings without the pressure of exhibitions or deadlines. Creating just for myself feels liberating, purely driven by curiosity. I’ve also been attending other artists’ shows, which continually renews my inspiration and deepens my connection to the community.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Pei Ou, and I’m a painter based on the East Coast of the United States. I work primarily in oil painting, and my practice explores psychological landscapes and the subtle, often unspoken layers of human emotion. I received my MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Through symbolic imagery and emotionally resonant narratives, my paintings reflect states of vulnerability, disconnection, and the quiet tensions that shape our inner worlds.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was someone who observed quietly and felt deeply. I was always drawn to images, gestures, and silences that spoke louder than words. That part of me never really left; it simply found a language in painting.

When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
I turned to drawing, not because I was trying to make something beautiful, but because it was the only language I had for feelings I couldn’t yet name. Shapes, lines, and imagined figures became containers for fear, loneliness, and longing. Drawing gave me a sense of order in a world that often felt too chaotic. It was a quiet refuge, a private space where I could exist fully without needing to explain myself.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I deeply value resilience, a quiet and persistent strength I grew up witnessing. In my art, resilience means returning to the canvas again and again, embracing mistakes, and allowing uncertainty to shape the work. It is less about control and more about enduring, adapting, and continuing to create.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m alone in my studio, with a blank canvas in front of me and the quiet hum of my thoughts. Painting allows me to slow down time and enter a meditative state where nothing else exists but the colors, shapes, and emotions on the canvas.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.peioustudio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peiou_studio_/