Paper Waltz, 20" x 20"

Mixed Media on Canvas. 20 x 20 x 1.5 inches.

"I paint natural elements against geometric abstraction to represent the complexity and beauty of the human experience. Working in layers with myriad of materials, I build up visual and physical texture before creating a narrative with painted paper cranes alluding to the fragility of life and the importance of community ties.

My paintings are built out of observations and feelings that I had from being a caregiver, first as a registered nurse and then as a mother to a sick child. Paper became the perfect analogy for life for me. It can be delicate, but if you put a few pieces together or fold it a couple of times, it can become quite durable. The cranes symbolize the lives we build for ourselves, highlighting how fragile life is as they are simply made of paper. The cranes fly about, racing, and dancing; these paintings emphasize the need for others and the community. My artwork challenges the concept that we are each self-sufficient and strives to find a balance between the ideas of individualism and collectivism. We belong to larger interconnected communities, and can’t always see how we rely on each person in society."

Megan Lui, a Detroit-based mixed-media artist, creates textured works using acrylic, spray paint, ink, modelling paste, and collage. Blending natural forms with geometric patterns, her vivid, surreal paintings explore the balance between chaos and structure. A Wayne State University graduate, Megan has exhibited in metro Detroit and Toronto, with her work held in private collections across the U.S. and the Netherlands.