Ann Liu
Ann Liu, also known as "CREATRIX," is a first-generation Chinese-American artist based in Los Angeles, originally from the Bay Area. Inspired by the nuances of a multicultural experience, her work grapples with Chinese traditional values and those of the "American Dream." Ann delves into abstract concerts of femininity, pleasure, and healing through vivid introspection and self-analysis. Vibrant and visceral, her meticulous figurative pieces mythologize and romanticize the essence of life's experiences. Her style intertwines modern aestheticism with traditional Chinese 国画 (guohua) philosophies of creativity, offering a unique dance between past and present. Ann holds a BFA in Fine Art and a BA in Media Studies, graduating with honors from UC Berkeley.
Collect Bean: What does growth mean to you?
Ann Liu: Growth is like a sensation of spiraling upward. It's the feeling of distance that you have journeyed far from familiar feelings or past patterns, knowing deep in your heart and soul that you no longer align with a past version of yourself or your circumstances.
Collect Bean: How do you incorporate feedback or criticism into your artistic process?
Ann Liu: I take what sits and leave what doesn't. I'm very focused on expanding creatively while prioritizing my peace, comfort, and joy, so I listen to ways I can improve technically or qualitatively but generally avoid absorbing external opinions. What matters most is that my art process feels good to ME, and I am very sensitive about that.
Collect Bean: If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Ann Liu: Stop caring what boys think and start investing in Bitcoin.
Collect Bean: What role does art play in society, and how does your work contribute to that?
Ann Liu: Art is a physical and visual manifestation of the sentiments of society; it trickles down from the collective consciousness, and so it reflects or signifies the times. With cultural homogenization and the digital age, so much of today's imagery is derivative, and I really feel like there is a collective existential crisis -- the vibes are very much giving overstimulation. No one who is actively "making," including myself, is exempt from contributing to the oversaturation, so I just chose to reach way back in the past to highlight the lore of times long gone and hopefully preserve some culture and history.
Collect Bean: Are there any recurring themes or motifs in your art, and if so, what do they represent to you?
Ann Liu: “Femininity” is a definite recurring theme; my work navigates through the push & pull of different polarities of womanhood – disgust and desire, spirituality and materiality, power and submission, solitude and intimacy. It shows up through subject matter, symbolism, emotion, aesthetic choices, and personal reflection. Womanhood is complex and multifaceted, and I am always seeking to represent the nuances of the experience. As I grow and define the parameters of my values and identity, my art does, too.
