Bio
My work is a survival strategy for navigating the treacherous terrains of conflicting ideologies. Making, unmaking, remaking, an unending exercise in dexterity of imagination. I tap into moments of historical entanglement through which identities, objects and desires are continually unmade and remixed in porous, unexpected ways—where borders momentarily collapse and coalitions glimmer into existence. I adapt to different modalities of making, playfully engaging with various idioms of painting, and seeking out forgotten connections and speculative encounters across time and space. I orient myself, again and again, toward that queer utopia where I maintain a feeling of anonymous belonging.
Yizhen Shen (b. 2003, Shanghai) received his BFA from Rhode Island School of Design in 2025. He now lives and works in Shanghai.