Xihan Guan was born in Beijing, China, and currently resides and works in Brooklyn, New York. She earned her BA from Bard College and her BS from Columbia University in 2016, followed by her MFA from the LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Art at Maryland Institute College of Art in 2019.
Xihan primarily works with oil paintings, constructing a collection of imaginary and mythical spaces that encompass a wide range of imagery and abstraction. Drawing inspiration from the depth of Chinese art and the philosophy of tragedy inherent in Chinese thought, Xihan’s work goes beyond simple representation, aiming to evoke emotions deeply embedded in the subtle intricacies of existence. Guided by the Taoist principles of harmony and the idea of oneness of everything, her art embodies the interplay between the tangible and formless, and the nuanced variations of emotions—echoes of melancholy, tranquility, longing, and joy—each brushstroke paying homage to the complexity of human experiences.