Yangzi Xu Paintings

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The glow of the Chicago Theater's sign contrasts radiantly with the deepening blues and browns of the urban landscape. Golden and russet tones of twilight bathe...

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As the evening falls, Michigan Avenue in Chicago bustles with activity as pedestrians stroll down the sidewalk. The iconic lampposts of The Magnificent Mile cas...

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Artist Yangzi Xu portrays Michigan Avenue in Chicago at dusk with an impressionist approach. The dark sky sets the perfect scenery for th...

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Artist Yangzi Xu depicts a breathtaking evening scene at dusk on Wacker Drive, Chicago. "The lights of the city are on, creating a mesmerizing effervescence tha...

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Artist Yangzi Xu depicts a rainy afternoon on Michigan Ave, Chicago. Her impressionist strokes keep the paint flowy and the texture varied. The street lights an...

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Artist Yangzi Xu offers an inviting scene on a rainy afternoon at the downtown market in Paris, France. Warm lights bring the streets aglow with vibrant colors as they shine through lights from establishments and a huge red awning. People walk on wet pavement under a stretched reflection of the muted sky. Structures recede into the distance that wanders deeper into the city.

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: France, market, travel, city, street light, Paris, Europe, cityscape, rain, rain rainy, mood, market, reflection, evening, dusk, buildings, road, pedestrians, umbrella, architecture, impressionism, travel, architecture, impressionism, travel, oil painting, brown

Rainy Day, Paris Market...

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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 towerin...

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A brisk winter day in the Chicago Loop area. Cool gray clouds hang low in the sky and reflect off of the buildings and street. "Cities are charming places even though they can be cold and indifferent sometimes," says artist Yangzi Xu...

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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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Artist Yangzi Xu depicts a rainy afternoon on La Salle Street, Chicago. Yangzi shares her fascination with painting rainy scenes. Warm ...

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

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Part of artist Yangzi Xu's Winter, LaSalle Street series depicting a cold winter day in downtown Chicago. "I'm captivated by the view of the bridge - it's a b...

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A glowing semi-abstract depiction of the Chicago Riverwalk in the early evening. Artist Yangzi Xu paints with both tonal and striking cool colors, highlighted...

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Part of artist Yangzi Xu's series Winter, LaSalle Street depicting a cold winter day in Chicago with a north-facing view of the bridge. "The painting captures...

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On her commute, Yangzi used to pass State St in the evening when the lights were just turning on. "This is a moment of fleeting beauty that you want to stop and appreciate," she says. "This is the magnificence that Chicago has to offer." Yangzi developed the energy of the scene, roughly painting in the speeding cars and drawing the eye back into the composition with her strongly angled perspective.

About the Artist
Artist Yangzi Xu...

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Evening on Randolph Street in Chicago, home to many of the city's theatres. "The lights are on, the musicals in the theatres are on," says Yangzi. "I painted th...