Keyi Liu is a multimedia artist, curator, and illustrator from China. Her practice encompasses interactive installations, 3D animation, and illustration, exploring themes of fantasy, creatures, and the intricate worlds of her dreams. Immersing in Liu’s digital artworks is like living in the world of Fantastic Beasts. Through rich narratives, Liu’s work examines the interplay between social development and individual inner states.

*Mermaid Garden*, 2021, Illustration. Photo Courtesy: the artist.

“If I had to use three words to describe myself: I would say Fantasy, Romantic and Contradictory.”

*Magic Mirror*, 2021, Illustration. Photo Courtesy: the artist.

From a young age, Liu dreamed of becoming an artist. Dreaming itself became a source of inspiration for her. Liu describes her dreams as vivid and detailed—she can recall them clearly upon waking. Compared to real life, the worlds she experiences in dreams are distorted and chaotic, yet they became the foundation of her artistic practice. In these multidimensional realms, humans coexist with fantastical creatures, fueling her imagination and inspiring her to create.

Selected from the series *Wu: The Chinese Empress Who Schemed, Seduced and Murdered Her Way to Become a Living God (written by Jonathan Clements)*, 2020, Illustration. Photo Courtesy: the artist.

*Insect God*, 2020, Digital. Photo Courtesy: the artist.

Another significant influence on Liu’s artistic development was her early education. Before college, the system was rigid and oppressive: at her school, students were required to wear the same clothes, have the same hairstyle, and conform to uniform standards. When standing together, it was almost impossible to tell anyone apart. This environment shaped Liu’s understanding of art, shifting her perspective from seeing it as a mere tool for visualizing her imagination, to recognizing it as a powerful, metaphorical language for expressing her individual thoughts and critiques of society and life. This realization solidified Liu’s resolve to pursue art as a lifelong path.

*Cyborg Elf*, 2023, Digital. Photo Courtesy: the artist.

Liu went on to study abroad for college and her masters. Throughout her studies, Liu experimented with various mediums, cultivating her conceptual thinking and enhancing both the depth and expressiveness of her work. Liu’s practice focuses primarily on 3D art, which she uses as a medium to explore complex social themes and continue translating her inner world into immersive artistic narratives.

*Heavenly*, 2023, Digital and Interactive. Photo Courtesy: the artist.

“The world is multidimensional. Humans and fantastical creatures coexist, which leads me to fantasize about [that].”

Liu earned her BFA with honors in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York and MA Architecture in Design for Performance & Interaction from University College London (UCL). Her academic experiences at SVA and UCL were distinctly different, each contributing uniquely to her artistic growth. At SVA, where she majored in Illustration, the program offered a diverse range of courses that encouraged exploration across various creative mediums. If her time at SVA laid the foundation for her artistic style and mindset, Liu’s studies at UCL further developed and refined these ideas with a more rigorous and logical approach.

*Forbidden Cage*, 2023, Interactive Installation. Photo Courtesy: the artist.

At UCL, Liu pursued a degree in Design for Performance and Interaction, a program that emphasizes research skills and fosters critical thinking. She explored numerous technological creative fields, including mechanical structures, interactive installations, and coding. Living and studying in two different countries also enriched Liu’s lived experiences, shaping her both as an artist and as a person.

*Lost island in 1997,* 2023, 3D Art. Photo Courtesy: the artist.

“I think my specialty is visual design. I’m a very imaginative person. I see any sights in life, even a white wall, and I can instantly transform them into a fantastical space, so for me, this creative process is a constant source of inspiration; that’s what I’m most proud of.”

*The Poem of Wood*, 2023, Digital. Photo Courtesy: the artist.

This year marks a turning point in Liu’s creative journey. In the past, she primarily focused on independent projects for galleries, but in 2025, she plans to connect her work with commercial opportunities while maintaining her visual style. Liu is transitioning from an individual creative environment to one of collaboration—engaging with creators from various industries to build a more diverse and dynamic exchange of ideas. The creative projects Liu is currently working on are predominately teamwork, such as visual design for the advertising industry, as well as spatial design for art exhibitions.

The artist with her works. Photo Courtesy: the artist.

Looking ahead, in addition to advancing her personal and commercial projects, Liu has co-founded a publication studio with several artist friends based in London and Beijing. They are planning to launch an art magazine called mag+NET . Rooted in the concept of decentralization, the magazine is committed to discovering promising artists. Each issue will focus on a different theme, exploring the possibilities of various mediums and narratives.

*Moonchild*, 2020, Illustration. Photo Courtesy: the artist.

Solo Exhibition:
2024
“Room 79 at Dawn” Exhibition, The Blanc Gallery, New York

Exhibitions:
2024
“The Poem of Future” Exhibition, Think-1 Gallery, Shanghai
“Voice2024” Exhibition, CICA Museum, Korean
“The Art of the Future”, SongZhuang Art Museum, Beijing
“Drifting Vision”, The eARTH Gallery, London
“Infinity” Exhibition, Florence Contemporary Gallery
Art Prize Vol III “STRUCTURES”, Doordom Gallery
“Existing in Shadowland”, Artsect Gallery, London
“Heterotopias | Of Other Places”, Sojourner Gallery, New York
Future Stars, The Holy Art Gallery, London & Greece
The Dark Side, Boomer Gallery, London

2023
Bartlett Fifteen Show, The Bartlett School of Architecture, London
ARS ELECTRONICA Festival for Arts, Technology & Society, Linz
London Festival of Architecture, Here East London, London
Lighthouse Art Festival, Brick Lane, London

2022
The Bartlett Fifteen show, University College London, London
“Material Utopia” Natural Art Exhibition, Reptile Gallery, Beijing

2021
Yes! Art Festival, Times Art Museum, Beijing
Bejoint Illustration Carnival, Sanshang Art Gallery, Hangzhou
Alumni Society Online Show, SVA Image Gallery, New York
Human Tribe Exhibition, SVA Gallery, New York

2020
Creatures, Beasts, Myths Exhibition, Vacant Museum
Bejoint Illustration Carnival, The Mixc, Shenzhen
Man-made Monster Thesis Show, SVA Gallery, New York

Film Festival

2024 Lift-Off First-Time Filmmaker Sessions, OFFICIAL SELECTION

Awards:
2024 Doordom Art Prize Vol III, Finalist

2022 Communication Arts Award, Shortlist
2021 Young Blood Award, Nomination
2021 Jack Endewelt Memorial Award

See more Keyi Liu on:

https://keyiliu-art.cargo.site/

Instagram: @edekiow

Sherry Wu (Yongyi)

Emerging Artist Co-Editor, MADE IN BED

Keyi Liu

Emily Alice Mitchell

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