FEN HSU

Artist Statement

and Curriculum Vitae

CONTACT AND SOCIAL MEDIA

@fenhsu 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. Be sure to visit Fen on her YouTube channel, @fenhsu, for her journey in art and healing.

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 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. Her art has been featured in many exhibits and has exciting new work to share.

EDUCATION

Oil Painting class in Maui, Hawaii
Bachelor of Science, Engineering, Studies in Art and Architecture, University of California, Berkeley
De Young Museum Art School, San Francisco, studied with the abstract painter, John DiPaolo
Fort Mason Art Center, San Francisco, Classes in Life Drawing and Painting

EXHIBITS

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

PUBLICATIONS and FILM