Natalie Niu was born along the path of the ancient Silk Road in Gansu, China. Raised in a village known for its painters and calligraphers, she taught herself drawing from a young age. She went on to study fashion design in Shanghai and worked there for several years as an art teacher. In 2022 she moved from China to Louisiana. As she settles into her new home, she has reconnected with the styles and techniques of her old one, including bold freehand painting (xieyi) and delicate, fine-stroked brushwork (gongbihua). She works with watercolor and ink on rice paper to capture the flora, fauna, and scenery of Louisiana. These unique themes help her challenge the rigid subjects of traditional Chinese painting and create something new. For people here in Louisiana and the South, she hopes that seeing familiar subjects rendered in a foreign style can help them gain a greater appreciation for how our two cultures can elevate and enrich each other.