Yangzi Xu Art

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A street in Chicago comes alive on a rainy afternoon. The wet pavement reflects the city lights, creating a shimmering effect as cars and pedestrians move thr...

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Artist Yangzi captures a rainy evening on Chicago's Michigan Avenue. Streetlamps glow warmly against the cool reflections of the wet pavement. Figures with umbr...

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Pedestrians stroll through the streets of downtown Chicago, passing the iconic lion statues at the Art Institute of Chicago. Autumn hues fill the scene as tal...

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Artist Yangzi Xu depicts a lively nighttime scene of New York City. She fills the composition with recognizable aspects such as tower...

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Artist Yangzi Xu depicts an iconic view of LaSalle Street in Chicago, facing south from the bridge. She rendered this piece in a warm muted palette, setting the stage to highlight sporadic lights and reflections on wet concrete. "My focus was to convey the mood and feeling a rainy day brings to my beloved city," shares Yangzi.

About the Artist
Artist Yangzi Xu captures a nostalgia for Chicago and its dramatic seasonal changes in her expressionist cityscapes. Having a full-time job and being a wife and mother, Yangzi makes a habit of painting everyday to keep her passion exciting and fresh. She keeps a queue of ideas and reference photos that she takes throughout the year. She looks through her references, tweaks and adds elements to them. Once inspiration strikes, Yangzi draws several sketches and begins to work with oils on canvas on multiple pieces at once - to keep each painting spontaneous and new. "I try to capture the paradox of life in the city, where one can be in a crowd and yet feel alone," Yangzi says. "My main intent is not to capture the physical reality of a scene, but to express my own moods and feelings to my audience." In her free time, Yangzi enjoys reading, with her current favorite genres being biographies and memoirs. Yangzi is an alumnus of DePaul University in Chicago.

Words that describe this painting: Chicago, La Salle...

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Set during an evening on Wacker Drive, the artwork offers an atmospheric view of Chicago, featuring the iconic Tribune Tower and surrounding buildings. The st...

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After lingering near an outdoor concert in Chicago, artist Yangzi Xu found inspiration in an unexpected view. The city curves across the reflective surface of C...

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Artist Yangzi Xu captures the joyful return of spring to downtown Chicago in this painting. Vibrant tulips in pinks, reds, and corals fill the foreground, softe...

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A field of tulips bursts into bloom along Chicago’s iconic Michigan Avenue. The softened architecture glows under a pastel-hued sky, while rich strokes of pin...

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An evening in Rome unfolds with warm lights illuminating a narrow passage near Piazza Navona. The lively atmosphere of bustling cafes and shops contrasts with...

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Artist Yangzi Xu captures the vibrant energy of downtown Chicago as dusk descends over the city. A cyclist glides effortlessly through the illuminated streets...

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Artist Yangzi captures Chicago’s Loop at the intersection of Randolph and State Streets as day transitions into night. Soft twilight blends with the vibrant...

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A compelling depiction of the Chicago skyline during nightfall under pink and blue lenses. Artist Yangzi Xu blends abstract and reali...

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Artist Yangzi Xu captures a serene moment in Chicago's Theatre District. The quiet streets, dusted with a thin layer of snow, absorb the soft glow of the stre...