Interview
Xiaoling Li
Xiaoling Li (professionally known as “Ling is eel”) is an award-winning tattoo artist and illustrator based in New York City, originally from Beijing, China. Born to immigrant parents from both North and South Korea, her multicultural background informs a distinct artistic voice that bridges illustration, fine art, and tattooing. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in 2020. Li is widely recognized for her refined and evolving tattoo style, while her creative practice also encompasses traditional oil painting and visual storytelling. Her work has received international acclaim, including the Merit Award in the 3×3 International Illustration Annual No.17 Show. In 2022, she exhibited an oil painting in Solace of the Myth, a curated group exhibition featuring acclaimed tattoo artists such as Krish Trece, Filouino, and Amon Maiden.
In 2023, Li’s presence expanded across major art and industry platforms. She showcased her work at the Five Points Festival alongside leading creatives such as Punk Drunkers, Marusan, Super7, Henbo Henning, and Kiku Punk. In October of the same year, she was invited to exhibit at The New York Tattoo Convention, one of the most prestigious events in the field, where she presented her work alongside Melek Tastekin, Krish Trece, and Sasha O'Kharin. Li continues to push the boundaries of tattoo as a medium, integrating cultural nuance, technical precision, and a painter’s sensibility across every surface she works on.
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My work brings to life a world that has lived within me since childhood, a realm of fairies and fantastical beings that exists vividly in my daydreams and dreams. This is not escapism; it is the core of my artistic purpose. Visualizing and articulating this universe is a spiritual act for me. It is how I access truth. I was born to do this, and everything in my life affirms that path. My practice also stands in clear opposition to the materialistic value systems I was taught to accept. In China, the education system prioritized external success and dismissed the inner world. I reject that framework. I believe the obsession with materialism is a primary source of human suffering. Instead, I draw from thinkers like Wang Yangming and Carl Jung, those who center inner truth, moral imagination, and the unconscious. I align myself with a worldview that places dreams, love, and beauty at the foundation of life. My art is a declaration: the inner world is real, and it holds the power to reshape the outer one.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“Every detail in my work is meticulously planned. I am deliberate with each stroke and color, and I pursue results that reflect my vision of perfection. I do not leave anything to chance.”
“Art is not just something I do. It is the way I live.”
Are there any art world trends you are following?
“No. I do not follow trends. My focus is on building a style that is singular and uncompromising. I refuse to dilute my vision to fit into temporary currents.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“Human skin is one of my primary canvases, but my practice goes far beyond tattooing. I also create traditional works using watercolor and colored pencil on thick cold-press paper. These materials allow for precision and nuance, aligning with my pursuit of clarity and depth.”
What does your art mean to you?
“Art is not just something I do. It is the way I live. It is the lens through which I understand the world and myself. I was born to make art, and I live by that purpose. Like farming is a way of life for a farmer, art is my way of life.”
What’s your favourite artwork and why?
“One of my favorite recent works is Two-Tailed Snake Fairy, created with watercolor and colored pencil on paper. The character is entirely original, born in my imagination on a luminous spring day. The painting captures her birth in golden-green light, surrounded by soft grass, daffodils, and dandelions. I value this piece because it fully realizes the vision I carried in my mind. It gives me clarity and momentum. It confirms that I am entering a new phase of my artistic journey. This painting is a marker, a flag I’ve planted to guide my future work.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“In 2019, I received SVA Alumni Scholarship Awards and 3*3 International Illustration Annual No.17 Show Merit Award. In November 2022, I exhibited an oil painting in Solace of the Myth, a group show featuring prominent tattoo artists such as Krish Trece, Filouino, and Amon Maiden. In June 2023, I presented work at Five Points Festival, exhibiting alongside leading names like Punk Drunkers, Marusan, Super7, Henbo Henning, and Kiku Punk. In October 2023, I was invited to participate in The New York Tattoo Convention, one of the industry’s flagship events, where I showed my work alongside Melek Tastekin, Krish Trece, and Sasha O'Kharin.”
Website: www.lingiseel.com
Instagram: @ling.is.eel
