Jocelyn Tsaih

Written by Laura Bertinelli

Visual artist Jocelyn Tsaih’s work is introspective in nature and filled with a strong sense of closely observed human nature. Working across a range of different media such as painting, mural-making and illustration, the recurring amorphous figures in Jocelyn's illustrations are abstract forms used to tell stories and embody different aspects of what it means to be human, including our emotions, the relationships we form, and the subconscious part of ourselves. Whether it’s illustrations for Apple, stickers for Snapchat, or being an Artist in Residence for Facebook, her work has a unifying theme in the exploration of human experience.

Taiwan-born, Jocelyn’s background has shaped her creative outlook and the way she views the world. She grew up in Shanghai before moving to New York City, where she graduated at SVA (School of Visual Arts), and has recently moved to California. Growing up as a 'big city person', Jocelyn is now learning to adjust to a slower pace of life and work, which has taken her out of her comfort zone and is reflected in the evolution of her visual style. Jocelyn also cites conversations with friends and strangers as sources of inspiration and strives to create work that captures a mood and evokes emotion. As she tells us, "My style is still evolving, and I love being able to try new things to see how I can push myself to grow while working within the limits of illustrating the figures."

Jocelyn believes that strong, powerful connections can be created through art. She regularly takes part in community activities aimed at bringing people together and in the past year organised fundraiser campaign Save Our Chinatowns in support of local Chinatown communities. She uses her creative talent to focus attention on issues she cares about, such as the anti-Asian prejudice that has become more prevalent since the pandemic began.

As a woman in the creative industry, Jocelyn is excited and proud to be surrounded by a community of women who support and uplift one another. Being an AAPI artist, she has often observed that artists of colour tend to be ‘pigeonholed’ into delimited paths and is strongly against gatekeeping in the art world. Jocelyn hopes to see more dialogue and openness, to ensure that future generations have easier access to education and professional experience in the creative industry: "Sometimes it feels as though we are only relevant if we’re making work that directly speaks to our experience as POC. I’d like to see more BIPOC, transgender, and gender non-conforming voices being celebrated no matter what month of the year it is."

We caught up with Jocelyn to find out more about what inspired her to be an illustrator, her evolving visual style, and the exciting new projects she's recently been working on.

How did you first become interested in working as an illustrator and mural artist?

I studied graphic design at the School of Visual Arts in New York and after I graduated I began to notice my increased interest in drawing and illustrating rather than designing. The storytelling aspect of illustration was enticing to me, since I've always been a fan of watching animated films like the Studio Ghibli movies I grew up with. I realized that I was maybe more interested in finding my own voice through an art form like illustration even though my background was in design.

I sought out jobs that had an illustration component to it, and eventually I landed at the Art & Graphics team at WeWork. This job introduced me to mural painting and was how I got started with murals. I was able to learn so much and gain so many new experiences in this role and it definitely prepared me to eventually be off on my own.

Can you tell us a bit about your career path and how you got to where you are now?

I've been an independent artist for 6 years now. I took this leap after I started gaining clients outside of my day jobs and getting hired for the personal work that I was making on my own time.

Throughout all my jobs prior to being freelance, I was always driven to create work for myself on my own terms. I was able to incorporate my knowledge from my design background and what I was learning at my day jobs into how I approach my own work. The combination of experiences in past jobs and the consistent process of building my personal portfolio allowed me to discover my voice and style. The evolution of my work and career has been pretty gradual. I believe every little step helped me get to where I am today.

How have you developed your visual style throughout your career and have there been any pivotal moments?

It's been 10 years since I first started illustrating my figure and there's definitely been a lot of changes within my style despite sticking to this central form. When I first started drawing the figure, it merely existed as black and white pen doodles in my sketchbook. I never thought that it would become the focus of my work. As I continued to doodle the figure over and over, I started realizing how this amorphous human-like being was able to encapsulate so many of my emotions.

Throughout the years, my style has gone from being only black and white to using primary colours to now embracing the full spectrum of colours. My work has changed from being flat to being more dimensional, from being drawn in pen and ink to being rendered digitally and hand-painted, sculpted as ceramics and wood carvings. I think there’s a lot more to explore and I’m excited to see how the work will continue to shift and grow.

Where do you get your inspiration from, and how do you approach a new project?

I am most interested in depicting facets of our human experience that we all share, especially intangible concepts such as emotion, memory, and connection. I am also inspired by other art forms, such as music, film, writing, and dance. I'm always in awe of artists that can so beautifully capture specific moments and moods. I strive to do the same through my work.

Tell us about a standout project that you've worked on and why it's important to you.

I just had my first solo show in New York, The Garden is Open, which was also my third solo show in general. This show combined a range of mediums including oil painting, ceramics, and wood sculptures. This body of work is important to me because I really challenged myself to expand my visual language by using new materials, working at various scales, and incorporating new colour palettes.

As always, the concept of the work came from wanting to capture a feeling, specifically the feeling of being in a place like a garden where one might feel at ease or a sense of relief. For me, painting and making art provide a similar feeling, so I wanted the work to pass it on to its viewers. The exhibition speaks to the importance of being able to find practices and spaces that make us feel grounded in our increasingly chaotic world.

How has being a woman impacted your career?

One of my favourite things about being a woman in the creative world is meeting so many other amazing, talented women. I'm constantly inspired by the other women artists I have the pleasure of knowing. I think there’s a strong sense of community and I'm always happy to see us uplifting one another.

Let's talk about your experiences working in NYC and in the West Coast. Are there any major differences, for examples in the creative community, or the type of work you were briefed?

I've been back in New York since 2023, after 5 years of living in the Bay Area. I started my freelance career in California and wouldn’t have had it any other way. With the art community being a lot smaller there than in NY and the lifestyle being much more laid-back, I felt like I was able to focus on my work and getting started.

I ended up moving back to NY because I ultimately feel the need to be in a higher energy city. As much as I enjoyed the laid-back vibes of California and the abundance of nature, I think I thrive in big cities where a bunch of creatives are constantly working on different things. I'm always inspired by NY and all the cool things people are making here.

Can you tell us about your experience as an AAPI woman designer. What actions to promote equality and diversity in the creative industries today would you like to see implemented?

As an East Asian woman in the creative industry, and as someone who has had the support of my family in studying art, I recognise that I have a lot of privileges. I often think about the gatekeeping that exists in the art world and how art education and professional knowledge should be made more accessible. I think initiatives like Fuck Gatekeeping are incredibly important because they provide a platform for people to connect and share information openly.

Something else I've come to observe as an AAPI woman artist is that we tend to be pigeonholed into certain subjects or career paths. Sometimes it feels as though we are only relevant if we’re making work that directly speaks to our experience as POC. I'd like to see more BIPOC, transgender, and gender non-conforming voices being celebrated no matter what the subject matter or style of our work is.

You often work on personal projects aimed at supporting communities and groups. Can you tell us about why you decided to use your creative skills to support such causes?

Art has become such a vital tool in spreading awareness and bringing communities together. I'm inspired by how others have been using their design and art skills to support causes and create change. Since COVID, I've been trying to do the same, to help communities that have been disproportionately impacted. I realised that I could use social media, specifically Instagram, to fundraise for certain causes. I also realised that every time I had an idea for a project aimed at supporting communities, I wouldn't be alone. There would always be other creatives ready and willing to help. I really don’t think of this aspect as part of my career. I think of it more as a way of utilising my strengths to help raise awareness of issues about which I care deeply.

Do you have any female role models or mentors who have shaped your career?

My mom has always been one of my role models. She is self-aware, strong-willed, and ambitious. When I was in middle school, she started a completely new career as a yoga instructor and co-owner of a yoga studio. I watched her build a community and a meaningful business based on her passion for wellness and health. She has always been supportive of me as a person and an artist. She has taught me, either subconsciously or consciously, to always stand up for myself and to be proud of my achievements. I'm very lucky to have a role model like her.

jocelyntsaih.com

@jocelyntsaih

Written by Laura Bertinelli