FEN HSU
Artist Statement
and Curriculum Vitae
CONTACT AND SOCIAL MEDIA
LinkedIn Fen Hsu
Instagram @artsywizz
Website artsywiz.com
Facebook artsywiz Shop
ArtsyWiz YouTube channel
STATEMENT
Fen Hsu explores themes of environmentalism and renewal in contemporary paintings referencing myth, wildlife, and favorite Pacific Northwest locations. Gestural forms and magic realism impart an ethereal and philosophic presence to her work. Among the settings in her artworks are the Olympic Peninsula, the Columbia Gorge and favorite places in California, Oregon, and Washington.
With a background as a civil engineer, Fen reflects on current ideas for environmental stewardship including natural storm drainage and evapotranspiration, ideas that relate also to climate change.
BIOGRAPHY
The art of Fen Hsu is a story of romance and of making lemonade out of lemons.
Part of a first-generation Taiwanese family in San Francisco, Fen studied art at the De Young Museum and the University of California, Berkeley. When she moved to Seattle, her future husband encouraged her in art and even took up painting himself, which led to painting and billiards romantic road trips where they discover the culinary gems, magnificent landscapes and communities of their home in the Pacific Northwest.
Life being full of surprises, her art practice comes about in part from a recent disability. Making lemonade out of lemons, she has rediscovered joy in painting. Optimism and resourcefulness are part of the distinct spirit and style of her work
Her art has been featured in many exhibits. Fen also continues a career in engineering. She is a mother of 2 grown children and, before her disability, remained active in many sports.
EDUCATION
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Oil Painting class in Maui, Hawaii
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Bachelor of Science, Engineering, Studies in Art and Architecture, University of California, Berkeley
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De Young Museum Art School, San Francisco, studied with the abstract painter, John DiPaolo
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Fort Mason Art Center, San Francisco, Classes in Life Drawing and Painting
COMMUNITY AND CREATIVE WORK
2012, Seward Park Tree Ambassador leading tree walks
2010, Contributing writer to Momentum Magazine, a bicycle lifestyle magazine
2010, Fashion contributor to the Great City Fete Du Flaneur celebration event
2010, Presenter at Blue Festival along with the Mangrove Action Project to raise awareness of the health of the oceans
2009, Presenter of up-cycled bicycle fashions at the Sustainable Ballard Festival
2006 to Present, Publisher and designer of books and games
