Meet Ziruo Wang

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ziruo Wang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Ziruo, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I grew up in a rainy, near-sea city, nurtured by the stories told by my grandma. Once, she told me the story of her mother, a salt worker who raised my grandma and provided her with education by carrying baskets of salt on her shoulder and transporting them from the salt field to ships and trucks. When I was little, my grandma would take my sister and me back to her village to worship the graves of our ancestors.
As we climbed to the very top of the hill where the graves were located, we could see the entire village. In my eyes, the squares of salt fields and the moving spots of salt workers formed a vibrant pattern of country art. The farmers and their oxen plowed through the field, getting dirt and water onto themselves, leaving marks that formed paths: this was my first knowledge about mark-making and graphic art.
Inspired by the landscape and culture of my hometown, I aspire to create work that can transport viewers to different worlds, evoke feelings of togetherness and curiosity, and produce illustrations that are playful and full of emotion, resonating with both children and adults alike.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Thank you so much for having me! My name is Cara Ziruo Wang, an illustrator based in Providence, NYC, and China. I’m originally from Guangzhou, China, and I’m currently pursuing a BFA in illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design.
My work revolves around editorial and children’s book projects, as well as collaborating with other artists and designers to create work that pushes boundaries. I love walking down the streets of New York City, listening to cars zoom past while blasting Chinese country music, smelling the dried fish and fruits from nearby stalls, observing people in candy-colored clothes going about their day, and collecting stories from them. I truly cherish all the scenes and stories from the streets, but more than that, I wish to share them with the world.

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. Keeping a sketchbook: keeping a sketch book allow me to record the most trivial moments in life, like picking up a shell when walking on the beach, sketching is about appreciating and share the beauty of the things that often go unseen, and that ability to provide unique perspective is important to any creatives.
2. Curious in learning: sometimes when I feel burn out as an illustrator, I would turn to different media or art forms, looking into other fields broadens my view and give me new inspirations. I gather these knowledge from films, music, comedy, folk art, sports, food, all kind of things in the world, there is never enough to learn!
3. Be a kind person: Having a nice reputation is pretty important in a small industry. Many of my work actually comes from previous clients or people of acquaintances, so being sincere to people is always good.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I always want to collaborate with someone who works in the food/restaurant/catering industry.

I recently started a series of work that captures the essence of NYC’s diverse eateries and the unique stories behind them— from Chinatown cafes to Greek diners, ice cream trucks, chicken rice carts, and local noodle shops. Food reflects culture and place, and in NYC, people from all backgrounds gather, open eateries, and share food from their origins.

I visit different restaurants daily, drawing the people and lives behind them. I’m fascinated by how food and people adapt to the local environment, becoming true to the context they’re in. Through documenting these stories, I believe we help each other grow and thrive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carawang.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carawart/
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziruo-wang-835392254?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Image Credits

N/A