Zhiyu You 游芷瑜
Zhiyu You’s practice combines traditional painting techniques with digital drawing, forming a visual language shaped by her Chinese cultural background. Through this hybrid approach, she explores the lived experiences of women and marginalized communities, focusing on moments that are often overlooked or unspoken.
She is particularly interested in the quiet emotional undercurrents embedded in women’s daily lives—feelings that exist beneath routine gestures, familiar spaces, and social expectations. By bringing these hidden and undetected emotions into focus, her work creates a space for reflection, recognition, and emotional visibility.
Zhiyu is available for commissions, collaborations, and other such projects.
Contact:
Email: zhiyuart@gmail.com
Instagram: zyuyou_art
Education:
BFA, Fine Arts, Illustration -
School of Visual Arts New York, New York, 2018-2022
BFA, Fine Art
Central Academy of Fine Arts Beijing, China, 2017
Selected Clients:
The New Republic / Zócalo Magazine / Shenzhen Press Group Publishing House / Tbaar /The Oriental Press
Awards:
Communication Arts, Shortlist 2025
Society of Illustrator of Los Angeles 2025
Creative Quarterly 72, Award of Excellence 2023
Creative Quarterly 71, Finalist 2023
3x3 Illustration Competition, Self Promotion, Merit 2023
3x3 Illustration Competition, Unpublished, Merit 2023
Communication Arts, Shortlist 2023
Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, Merit 2023
Society of Illustrators Annual Competition 2022
London International Creative Competition, Official Selection 2022
The Folio Book Illustration Awards, Shortlist 2022
Christmas at Tbaar Cup Sleeve Art Contest, $5000 winner 2022
Creative Quarterly 69, Professional 2022
3x3 Illustration Competition, Student, Honorable Mention 2022
American Illustration Student Competition 2022
Society of Illustrators Student Competition 2022
Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles Student Competition 2022
Communication Arts Student Competition, Longlist 2022
The Young Ones, Finalist 2022
London International Creative Competition, Finalist 2021
Hiii Illustration, Merit Award 2021
Hiii Illustration, Nomination 2021
American Illustration Student Competition 2021
Society of Illustrators Student Competition 2021
London International Creative Competition, Shortlist 2020
Society of Illustrators Student Competition 2020
Exhibitions:
The Garden Within NYC, NY 2025
The Art of Folio Exhibition NYC, NY 2025
The Society of Illustrators, Annual Exhibition NYC, NY, 2022
Bobblehaus NYC, NY, 2022
The Other World Beijing, China, 2022
Liminality: Visual Art Exhibition of Asian Artists in America NYC, NY, 2022
Quarantine: Adaptive Connections Omaha, NE, 2022
The Society of Illustrators, Student Competition Winner NYC, NY, 2022
SVA Senior Show NYC, NY, 2022
SVA Junior Thesis Show NYC, NY, 2020
Publications:
Impressions of Shenzhen Parks 2025
Moon Veneration 2024
The New Republic, Tony Tulathimutte Book Review 2024
Hello, Mangrove 2022
The New Republic, Vladimir Sorokin Book Review 2022
Zócalo Public Square, Arizona State University 2022
Press:
Communication Arts 2024
Bold Journey 2024
Voyage LA 2023
Creative Boom 2023
Netease 2023
Sohu 2023