Off to a fine art

Her bright and whimsical pieces catch the eye and just might make you hungry. Qiaoyi Shi, TYL ’17 is a New York-based printmaker and illustrator whose work often involves food.

“I find mundane events inspiring,” she says. “A trip to the grocery store or even preparing dinner one night can give me an an idea for my next piece.”

In addition to producing prints, which she sells at The Print Center in Philadelphia, Shi also runs a jewelry brand, YingOne Jewelry, with former Temple classmate Yingwan Sun, TYL ’17, and operates YUI Gallery, a risograph printing press and gallery hybrid in New York’s Chinatown.

YUI has evolved into a “safe space” for the creative expression of its members, many of whom have Chinese heritage. The gallery is a home for not only creating, displaying and viewing work, but also hosting events such as artist talks and critiques.

“I feel the need to share my work, and having more than one platform allows me reach more people.” 

—By Lauren Hertzler, KLN ’13