Emily Tsai grew up drawing and painting in the Bay Area. She studied traditional Chinese brush painting and other media all throughout her adolescent years. She received her BA in Studio Art at UC Irvine and AA in Graphic Design at the Art Institute of Orange County. Shortly after, she moved to Los Angeles, a city that continues to inspire her.

Emily currently works mainly in acrylics because of its versatility. She explores the delicate line work of Chinese brush painting blended with the graphic shapes and vibrant colors inspired by her study of design. Her compositions often contain subject matter common in traditional Chinese paintings, including certain flowers and animals.

Her work explores ideas of ephemeral pleasures and loss of innocence; objects in her pieces are often in the process of melting away. She is visually inspired by the feminine form and beauty trends of Los Angeles. She is currently working on a new collection to show at ArtShare LA in Los Angeles.

From the Artist... As I get older I constantly think about how nothing lasts forever, which is why my girls are always living in a state where things are melting away. My work explores fleeting pleasures and loss of innocence as well as the idea of never taking things too seriously. The girls in my paintings are humorous and cute yet lost and confused, but in the end they’re going to be fine.

I currently work mainly in acrylics because of its versatility. I explore the delicate line work of Chinese brush painting combined with the graphic shapes and vibrant colors inspired by my study of design. Along with the women I commonly paint, my compositions often contain subject matter common in traditional Chinese paintings, including certain flowers and animals.