Lanyi Gao

Lanyi Gao is interested in facilitating constructive dialogues based on shared female experiences. Based in New York City, Gao reflects on her background as an East Asian/Chinese woman and investigates traditional feminine roles in society and how they relate to cultural and socio-political history. Through her work, she scrutinizes the hegemonic status quo of the male gaze and aims to foster female solidarity and empowerment.

In her most recent work, a series of paintings titled Greeting Cards, Gao explores the balance between social critique and sarcasm. Appropriating My Melody, a 1990s cartoon character by the Japanese company Sanrio, the artist brings forth her own cultural perspective when considering female power. Sparking an uncanny dialogue between My Melody and the viewer, Gao infuses an atypical charm and wittiness into the cutesy feminine icon. The aim is to transform the grief of gender inequality into positive energy by addressing the often disheartening realities of the feminine and their status in society.

Gao holds a BFA in fine arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York and is on track to graduate there with an MFA in fine arts in 2023. Her work has been exhibited on various emerging platforms in New York, most recently at LATITUDE Gallery New York and Snow Gallery New York