Interview
Yicong Li
Yicong Li is an interdisciplinary artist and educator from China, currently based in Chicago. She holds an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BFA in Fiber from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Drawing from her diverse cultural background, Li blends fashion, sculpture, and performance through masquerades and body-interactive forms that challenge the boundaries of wearable art. She collaborates with local artists and designers, exhibiting her work extensively across the United States and internationally, and has been interviewed and published in numerous magazines and platforms worldwide for her distinctive approach to contemporary fiber art and fashion.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I was born and raised in Beijing, China, where my artistic journey began at a very young age. My grandmother, who was a skilled painter, introduced me to traditional Chinese ink painting. She was the first person to teach me how to draw, and many of my earliest memories are of sitting beside her, brush in hand, learning to observe the world through line, form, and flow. That early connection to art - rooted in both family and tradition - instilled in me a lifelong love for making. Art has always been my way of understanding and expressing the world around me. When I moved to the United States at sixteen, I was exposed to a completely new cultural and artistic environment. I went on to pursue a BFA in Fiber, where I began to view textiles not only as material but as a medium for intimacy, memory, and identity. A mentor encouraged me to dive deeper into my subconscious and to discover my voice through tactile forms. This eventually led me to an MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I began to explore interdisciplinary approaches - combining fashion, sculpture, and performance. Bridging my cultural heritage with contemporary practice, my work has become a space where I explore healing, transformation, and embodiment. Over time, my background in education and psychology has woven into my practice as well, shaping my approach to art as a language of care and connection.”
What inspires you?
“I am inspired by the quiet, often overlooked things - organic forms found in nature, deep-sea creatures, ancient rituals, and emotional healing. I am especially drawn to the mysterious and meditative quality of marine life, like jellyfish and coral, which feel both fragile and powerful. Their soft movement and otherworldly presence inspire the fluid shapes and textures in my work. I also find deep inspiration in human connection and emotion. Working as an educator, I spend a lot of time observing children and their responses to the world around them. Their honesty, vulnerability, and resilience remind me of the emotional layers we all carry. These experiences continue to shape my desire to create work that offers a sense of comfort, reflection, and healing—for myself and for others.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I often pursue themes of healing, transformation, and emotional intimacy in my work. I am drawn to the quiet power of softness - how fiber, texture, and form can hold emotion, memory, and energy. Many of my sculptures explore the relationship between the body and its inner world, offering a space to process, reflect, and reconnect. There is always an underlying message of care and restoration. Whether it's through the use of comforting materials like mohair and wool, or through the slow, meditative process of making, I want my work to carry a sense of calm and emotional resonance. My pieces often serve as protective spaces - like cocoons or shields - that speak to our need for safety, stillness, and self-understanding.”
How would you describe your work?
“I would describe my work as tactile, emotional, and transformative. I create soft sculptures and wearable pieces that live at the intersection of fiber art, fashion, and ritual. Using materials like mohair, wool, and beading elements, I build forms that invite touch and evoke a sense of intimacy, healing, and quiet strength. My process is intuitive and deeply connected to the body and subconscious. I am especially interested in how texture, color, and movement can hold emotional weight. My pieces often resemble deep-sea creatures or organic forms, drawing from their mysterious and ancient presence. At its core, my work is about creating space - for reflection, for softness, for restoration.”
Which artists influence you most?
“One of the artists who has influenced me the most is Lia Cook. Her ability to merge traditional textile techniques with neuroscience and emotional response really speaks to me. I admire how she uses woven imagery not only as a visual experience but as a way to explore memory, touch, and the human brain. Her work has encouraged me to think more deeply about the relationship between fiber, the body, and psychological presence - and how textiles can carry not just form, but feeling.”
“I am inspired by the quiet, often overlooked things - organic forms found in nature, deep-sea creatures, ancient rituals, and emotional healing.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process is intuitive, tactile, and deeply responsive to the materials I work with. I usually start with a rough inspiration - often drawn from nature, especially deep-sea creatures and plants. I am fascinated by their mysterious, calm, and ancient presence. These inspirations give me an emotional starting point rather than a fixed visual goal. From there, I surround myself with yarns, fibers, and objects like stones and beads that feel resonant. I let the process unfold organically, allowing my subconscious to guide my hands. I add, remove, and reshape as I go, letting the work evolve over time. I enjoy the meditative rhythm of fiber techniques, and I often work while watching deductive TV shows, which help balance my logical thinking and creative flow. Lighting incense in the studio grounds me, helping to create a calm, intentional atmosphere. Ultimately, my process is about balance - between chaos and order, spontaneity and structure, body and mind. It’s not always linear, but it’s always deeply connected to energy, emotion, and touch.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“An artist’s role in society is to observe, reflect, and translate the emotional and psychological undercurrents of our time into visual, sensory, and conceptual experiences. Artists have the ability to create spaces for empathy, dialogue, and healing - spaces that don’t always exist in our fast-paced, productivity-driven world. We challenge norms, preserve memory, and imagine new possibilities. I see this role evolving as the boundaries between disciplines continue to blur. Artists today are also educators, activists, researchers, and healers. Personally, I see my own practice moving in this direction - blending art, education, and psychology to create work that not only exists in galleries, but also touches lives in classrooms, museums, and therapeutic settings. I believe the future of art lies in its ability to connect with people more deeply, offering emotional resonance and space for reflection in a fragmented world.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Yes, I recently had a solo exhibition called ‘Tendril’ at the Peninsula School of Art. This body of work explores how threads and fibers can represent memory, emotion, and transformation. I see the fibers as extensions of the body - almost like masks or protective skins - that connect the personal with the collective experience. The work is inspired by natural patterns like vines, coral, and deep-sea creatures, as well as ritualistic ideas from Nuo Opera. ‘Tendril’ is about growth that is both delicate and persistent, showing how our subconscious thoughts and emotions unfold and intertwine with the world around us. Through the soft sculptures, I invite viewers into a space of connection, healing, and reflection - where human experience is linked to the rhythms of nature. It was a very meaningful show for me, marking an important step in my artistic journey.”
Website: www.yicongli.com
Instagram: @yicongli_
