Xiao Ouyang
Xiao is an illustrator and artist from china. She is interested in themes of childhood, memory, and emotional connection. Her practice is driven by a fascination with the relationship between children, stories, and imaginative play. Working across drawing, painting, printmaking, and mixed media, she explores how picture books can become spaces for curiosity, emotional engagement, and active participation.
Growing up surrounded by illustrated books and visual culture, She developed an early interest in the power of images to communicate ideas and emotions beyond language. This interest continues to shape her creative practice today. She is particularly interested in the ways children interact with visual narratives, and how illustration can encourage readers not only to observe a story but also to become part of it. Her work often combines playful imagery, rich visual details, and interactive elements that invite exploration and discovery.
Sketchbook practice plays a central role in Xiao’ s creative process. She sees sketching as a space for freedom, experimentation, and discovery, where ideas can develop naturally through observation and play. By recording people, environments, and fleeting moments that capture her attention, she builds a personal visual archive that informs her storytelling. Working with different media, she enjoys exploring expressive mark-making, character development, and rich visual details that invite readers to linger, observe, and uncover new meanings within the images.
Her final major project What do i look like follows a young rabbit on a journey to discover what they truly look like. Told through a light-hearted and humorous narrative, the story explores questions of self-perception, identity, and the influence of others’ opinions. Inspired by her own experiences of growing up and learning not to define herself through the voices of others, the project encourages children to develop a strong sense of self and to recognise that their identity belongs to themselves. Through delicate traditional painting techniques and funny visual storytelling, Xiao creates an engaging reading experience that balances warmth, humour, and emotional depth, inviting young readers to reflect on who they are while celebrating the uniqueness of every individual.
Ins: @xiaoxiaoapple1016
Email: xiaoouyang2024@163.com
