Kuan-Hsuan Lu

Could you share how your background in graphic design led you to explore illustration and visual storytelling?

My background in graphic design gave me a strong foundation in composition, typography, and visual hierarchy. Over time, I felt the need to express more personal and emotional ideas beyond branding or commercial work. Illustration and visual storytelling allowed me to translate my inner thoughts and narratives into images that carry deeper symbolic meaning.

What personal experiences most strongly inspired the themes of growth and resilience in this series?

This series was inspired by my own experiences of being hurt, and the gradual realization that those who hurt me were often carrying wounds from their own families. Through this process, I learned how to understand others, to forgive, and to grow. It also helped me recognize my own needs more clearly, push past my limits, and focus more deeply on myself. These reflections shaped the themes of resilience and growth in my work.

Kuan-Hsuan Lu | Toxic Nurture | 2025

Your works use vivid colors and symbolic forms like flowers breaking through barriers. How do you develop these metaphors?

I often start from a feeling or a life moment. For example, when I felt trapped by certain circumstances, I imagined flowers breaking through glass. These symbols grow from my personal emotions but also carry universal meaning, so viewers can project their own experiences onto them.

Kuan-Hsuan Lu | Flower Power | 2023

What role do color and texture play in evoking emotion in your illustrations?

Color is central in my work—it’s how I translate emotions into visuals. I use bold, contrasting hues to represent energy and hope, while softer tones suggest fragility and vulnerability. Texture adds depth, reminding viewers that growth and resilience are rarely smooth, they’re layered and complex.

Kuan-Hsuan Lu | Bloom | 2025

How does your Taiwanese background and current life in New York influence your visual language?

Growing up in Taiwan exposed me to rich cultural symbolism, patterns, and traditions. Living in New York, I’ve been surrounded by diversity and constant reinvention. My work blends these two worlds: the symbolic and poetic nature from my Taiwanese roots, and the bold, experimental edge I’ve developed in New York.

Kuan-Hsuan Lu | Empathy | 2024

Do you view your art as a bridge between different cultural identities?

Yes, very much so. My art reflects the in-between space of cultural identity, where East meets West, tradition meets modernity. For example, I often use contemporary illustration styles to symbolize the suffocating, repressive aspects of traditional Asian education and upbringing that I have observed and heard from others. By transforming these heavy experiences into modern visual metaphors, I hope my work resonates with people who are navigating multiple identities and shows that beauty and strength can emerge from that intersection.

Kuan-Hsuan Lu | Boundless Horizon | 2025

What emotions or reflections do you hope viewers carry with them after experiencing your work?

I hope viewers can feel strength, encouragement, and a sense of emotional release. Even when facing confinement or struggle, growth is never out of reach, it’s always possible to believe in oneself and overcome any obstacle. If my work can inspire resilience and hope in others, that would be truly wonderful.