The Erosion of Time Painting

J. Jie Li is a New York-based contemporary artist whose work explores the spiritual and emotional landscapes of human existence—suffering, desire, loss, and the elusive search for inner peace. Known for her evocative visual language, she weaves philosophical inquiry into layered watercolor and mixed-media compositions that bridge abstraction and symbolism. Her paintings are not merely visual depictions, but meditations—a dialogue between herself and the unseen forces that shape our lives. After earning her BFA from Parsons School of Design, J. Jie Li transitioned from a successful career in fashion to fully embrace fine art. Guided by an intuitive force that feels both ancient and ineffable, her creative path has become more than expression—it is a calling. Through painting, she channels a personal and philosophical search for meaning, one shaped by the teachings of Zen Buddhism, Daoism, and Arthur Schopenhauer. Schopenhauer’s vision of life as driven by relentless desire and inevitable suffering resonates deeply in her process. Her work strips away ornamentation to reveal the raw, often painful truths beneath. Through earth tones, fragmented forms, and light emerging from darkness, she explores the roots of human anxiety and resilience—offering glimpses of peace within the turmoil. Watercolor is her primary medium, yet she redefines its boundaries. Rather than emphasizing its delicacy and spontaneity, she transforms it into a language of structure, texture, and gravity. Her layered washes, sharp calligraphic brushstrokes, and incorporation of mixed media evoke both turbulence and stillness. The expressive influence of Chinese calligraphy runs through her work—each stroke a fragment of thought, memory, or silence. J. Jie Li’s paintings have been exhibited internationally in prestigious venues, including the Royal Academy of Arts and Mall Galleries in London; the Alexandria Museum of Art, Ormond Memorial Art Museum, Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, and Springfield Art Museum in the United States; and La Asunción Cultural Center and Muestra de Arte Contemporáneo in Spain. She has earned top honors in juried exhibitions—most recently in Watercolor USA and Watercolor Artist Magazine’s Best Paintings 2024—and her work is held in both private and public collections worldwide. At the heart of her practice is a profound dialogue between humanity and nature, the conscious and subconscious, fragility and resilience.