Meet Hansheng Lee

We recently connected with Hansheng Lee and have shared our conversation below.

Hansheng , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

Growing up Taiwanese American, I got used to being the only one in the room who looked like me long before I ever stepped into professional spaces. At first, I saw it as something I had to compensate for~ speak more softly, work twice as hard, take up less space so I wouldn’t draw the wrong kind of attention.

But over time, I realized that being “the only one” also meant I carried perspectives no one else had. I began to treat that difference as an asset rather than a liability.

One pivotal moment happened early in my high school art career, was when I was presenting a piece rooted in my cultural background. I remember looking around and realizing no one in the room had the lived experiences behind that piece. Instead of shrinking, I made the choice to explain the meaning with pride rather than apology. That shift from defending my existence to sharing my story~ changed so many things for me. It was a linoleum print titled “Home” of my family’s ancestral home in Taiwan, and I was awarded a Scholastic Silver Key award for it.

Being effective in those rooms meant:
1. Trusting my own voice, even if no one else echoed it yet.
2. Letting my lived experience inform my decisions instead of suppressing it, or putting it on the back burner.
3. Building bridges for others so they don’t have to be the only one after me, or at least giving other people a chance to have their voice.

It’s part of why I helped found The Art Collective International. I wanted to create a space where artists~ especially LGBTQ+ artists, Asian artists, immigrant and second-generation artists, neurodivergent artists, and anyone who’s ever been “the only one”~could feel seen, supported, and represented. Leading a multicultural, multi-studio collective has taught me that community isn’t just comforting~ it’s transformative and necessary. It changes the work we make, the way we show up, and the impact we’re able to have.

Today, when I walk into rooms where I’m still the only one sometimes, I remind myself that someone else’s unfamiliarity doesn’t diminish my belonging. I’m not there to fit their mold~ I’m there to bring the perspective and voice only I can bring. And every time I take up that space with confidence, I’m not just doing it for myself. I’m making room for the next person who looks like me, or who feels like I once did: outnumbered, overlooked, but full of potential.

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

My name is Hansheng Lee, and I’m a Taiwanese American multimedia artist and one of the founders of The Art Collective International (ACI), a multicultural, lgbtq+, creative studio based between Richmond, VA and Taipei, Taiwan. My work spans watercolor, acrylic (I should just say all paint mediums in generall), digital illustration, stained glass, mixed media, and culinary arts~ but the heart of everything I do is storytelling and connection. I love learning, and I don’t believe we as people should ever stop. A huge part of my practice that often surprises people is just how many mediums I work in~ and I know it’s a lot. It might seem random from the outside, but for me, it has always made sense. Color theory (or flavor theory), plays a huge role in how I move between mediums; color is an almost universal language, and each medium lets me explore differently in a new way. But beyond that, I’ve never believed that artists should have to “choose one path and that’s the end-all be-all forever.” Creativity is expansive; we are allowed to follow that curiosity, to shift, grow, and evolve. I don’t think we should limit ourselves to a single medium when each one opens a different doorway into storytelling and expression.

My art practice began when I was young, inspired by the quiet strength of my grandmother and tenacity of my mom, the landscapes of Taiwan and life in America, and the belief that art exists everywhere~ on our plates, in our gardens, in the way we speak and move through the world. Over time, that belief evolved into a mission: to make art accessible, meaningful, and integrated into everyday life, because art is everywhere.

ACI was born partially from that mission. What started as my personal studio grew into a collective supporting multiple artists and mediums~ including my husband Chris’s studio, Chris Foster Design, known for his miniature paintings and Art Nouveau influenced styles. ACI is built on community, education, cultural diversity, and the idea that creativity thrives when people feel safe, supported, and seen. We create original fine art, prints, jewelry, resin work, stickers, design pieces, and educational content; we teach online via Skool; and we partner with local makers and organizations to expand access to art as well as feature local artists.

What excites me most is watching people reconnect with the part of themselves that believes they can create. I teach because I’ve seen how one small spark~ one class, one encouraging moment, one tool explained the right way~ can open up a lifelong path.

ACI is currently expanding into broader education, community resources, charitable work through collaborations, and a photo reference library for artists. In the coming year, we’re launching new themes and pieces from multiple artists: Celestial for the New Year, Bonsai and Nature for summer. We’re also growing our Skool community, onboarding new featured artists, working on new courses and videos, as well as preparing for more vendor markets and hopefully some exhibitions.

As for my personal artwork, I have several long-running series:
– Echos of Earth: (watercolor) is a long-running series where I allow myself to paint landscapes, some real and others abstract using mineral pigment watercolor paints.
-Silhouette Series: (digital and watercolor) is where I find the middle ground between colors. What can be outlines, shadows, linework, and what can be more loose, flowing, and mixed.
And I have one new one in the works that I’ve been planning out, involving traditional-style scrolls with less traditional subjects and styles in them.

At its core, my work is about honoring where I come from, uplifting others through creativity, and building a sustainable ecosystem where artists can flourish, whether they are trying to learn and find a starting point, a footing, or are seasoned professionals. I want our collective to be a place where people can find belonging, rediscover joy in making things with their hands, or take their first dip into creating, and feel empowered to tell their own stories through art. My work is the amalgamation of being an intercontinental, interdisciplinary artist shaped by many homes, languages, cultures, mediums, and people~ all of which inform the way I connect with and uplift others through art.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Resilience~ learning to endure, adapt, pivot, and keep moving forward.
As an immigrant kid navigating two cultures, queer identity, and the pressure to excel in spaces where no one looked like me, resilience wasn’t optional~ it was survival but also a driving force. Later, as an artist working multiple jobs, to a long-hour corporate job, and building ACI from the ground up, it became the muscle that allowed me to keep creating even when resources were scarce or progress was slow.

My advice: start small, but stay consistent. Resilience is built through tiny little repetitions~ showing up to your craft for 10 minutes a day, finishing something imperfectly, and trying again tomorrow. Strength comes from movement, not perfection. Every step forward was a step towards a goal.

2. Curiosity~ allowing myself to explore without judgment.
My work spans watercolor, digital art, stained glass, design, culinary arts, and even gardening. I never set out to master multiple mediums; I simply followed what fascinated me. And I’m still learning more every day. Curiosity kept me learning when comparison or self-doubt could have easily made me stop. I am very privileged and fortunate that my grandmother and mother were both extremely supportive of me being adventurous and trying things I had an emotional resonance with. They did what they could to help foster and nurture that spark in me instead of stifling it or doing something that wasn’t the right fit.

My advice: give yourself permission to experiment. Try new tools, new styles, new approaches. Try, try and fail, try and succeed, but TRY. Curiosity grows when you focus less on being “good” or “perfect” and more on discovering what lights you up creatively, what makes your brain tingle, and brings a smile to your face at the end of the day.

3. Community~ finding it and joining one, or building spaces where others can grow, too.
I learned early on what it feels like to be the only one in the room. That feeling shaped my determination to build ACI not just as a studio, but as a collective~ a place where artists, especially those from marginalized communities, could find belonging, safety, and support. Before that, I spent 17 years in a higher-paced corporate art setting, creating work that I couldn’t even put my name on because of NDS’s or it was a “Team Project”. None of that felt super meaningful to me. That contrast is what made me realize how deeply I needed to a community of my own~ and how much I wanted to create one for others who felt the same way. Representation, value, and a shared space to uplift one another became foundational to ACI’s inception. Oftentimes, art is seen as a highly creative space when it doesn’t have to be. We each make our own art, our own way.

My advice: you don’t need to be an expert to create a community; finding and joining one is just as wonderful. Start by sharing what you know, asking questions, and showing up authentically. Community grows from connection, not perfection. Leadership thrives in collaboration. It’s a practice. Showing up consistently, seeing everyone’s perspective outside of your own, listening, and supporting others in a way that helps the whole community grow. People rise together.

If I had to summarize all three qualities into one message for anyone early in their journey, it would be this:
You don’t have to become someone else to succeed~ you grow by becoming more of yourself. Stay curious, stay consistent (but more so focused), and surround yourself with people who want to see you thrive and are supportive to help you thrive.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I don’t believe the choice is binary~ for me, the most sustainable path has been to go all-in on my strengths while staying committed to continuous learning, especially within the community.

Your strengths are where your voice lives. They’re the places where your natural instincts, lived experiences, and creativity come together. When I deepen those areas~ watercolor/acrylic, digital art, teaching, building community, understanding people~ my work feels authentic and aligned. That’s where I create the most impact, both artistically and within The Art Collective International.

But I’ve also learned that strengths don’t grow in isolation.
Any time I hit a wall~ whether it was managing a business, communicating in new spaces, learning new mediums, or navigating leadership, it was the willingness to learn that kept me moving. I don’t have to be great at everything, but I do need to stay open, adaptable, curious, and humble enough to say, “I can learn this/do this” or “I can ask for help.”

This is where community becomes essential.
I’m surrounded by artists, makers, educators, and entrepreneurs whose strengths are vastly different from mine. Leaning on that collective knowledge doesn’t make me less capable~ it makes all of us stronger. It’s how ACI works at its core: individual strengths woven together into something bigger than any one of us could build alone.

So my view is this:

Lead with your strengths~ that’s your foundation.
Continue learning~ that’s your momentum.
Community~ that’s your support system and a catalyst.

When those three things work together, you don’t have to choose between being strong or being well-rounded. You become both, naturally, through the evolution of your creative life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theartcollectiveinternational.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leehanshengstudios/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hansheng-lee-6907aa86/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeeHanshengStudios
• Other: https://www.skool.com/theartcollectiveinternational-5768

Image Credits

For the image of me painting: Maizi KYH
For my headshot: Christopher Foster