Hello!  I am Yi Ellis

I am an abstract painter who integrates the    spirituality of Chinese traditional paintings with the expressiveness of modern Western art.

For me, painting is dancing on canvas - moving my body is the most direct way that I can express myself.

My paintings are a record of my dance with brushes and palette knives, and they capture the moments and emotions that I experience during the creative process.  

I was born in Shanghai, China, where I began formal dance and piano trainings at age four, and have performed extensively including the White House and the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.  

Since age thirteen, I have lived in Colorado, New York City, Italy, Baltimore, Minnesota, Santa Monica, and have traveled to over 25 countries.  While images and experiences from my nomadic life provide inspirations for many paintings, my love for dance and music injects liveliness and movement in my work. 

I work in a variety of media and styles. I enjoy the joys and challenges each medium presents. Plein air and watercolor hone my ability to capture nature as faithfully as I see it, in a limited time. Ink drawings are fun doodles I make when I am on the go with just short bursts of time to work. And the large abstract paintings give me the space and freedom to express the visions and emotions that I hope resonate with the viewers.  I am grateful for all these art forms that allow me to share more beauty and joy with the world. 

I exhibit locally and internationally and have over 80 original paintings in private collections across the United States, Asia and Italy. Recently, I was delighted to win Best-in-Show in the Cherry Hills Juried Watercolor Exhibition in Colorado.