I’m Stanley Xia, a Chinese-American / Taiwanese-American artist, photographer, and walker from California.

My work moves between oil painting, photography, drawing, character design, and long-distance walking. I am interested in memory, beauty, healing, and the quiet tenderness of ordinary life.

My paintings often return to the human figure, while my photographs and walking projects search for moments of wonder in the world around me.

In 2024, I began walking across Japan on foot — a journey that became both a personal act of healing and the foundation for a larger documentary project.

I am also the creator of Room of Heart, a small world of original characters, drawings, and objects shaped by childhood, imagination, and emotional memory.

Exhibitions

2024 — Group Exhibition | Bopiliao Historic Block, Taipei, Taiwan

2023 — Farewell | Independent Studio Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA

2020 — Many Many Stories | Independent Studio Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA

2018 — Solo Exhibition | Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

Experience

2024–Present — Walking Across Japan Project
Develops a long-term walking, photography, and documentary project across Japan, exploring endurance, healing, memory, strangers, landscape, and the emotional meaning of travel on foot.

2024–Present — Documentary & Photographic Archive
Documents long-distance walking, daily encounters, personal objects, landscapes, and human stories through photography, video, writing, and field notes.

2025–Present — Room of Heart — Product Development & Online Shop
Develops original character-based goods including pins, postcards, stickers, and supporting merchandise. Oversees product design, factory production, visual presentation, website shop development, and brand storytelling.

2024–2025 — Assistant to Professor Wu Jun Xue
National Taiwan University of Arts

2023–Present — Life Drawing Instructor
Teaches figure drawing with a focus on proportion, structure, gesture, light and shadow, and short- and long-pose observation.

2019–Present — Independent Art Research
Studies painting, drawing, art history, and visual culture through museum visits, library research, books, archives, and direct observation of artworks and collections.

2019–Present — Independent Studio Practice
Develops an ongoing practice across oil painting, drawing, photography, character design, and visual projects, with a focus on the human figure, memory, beauty, and personal mythology.

Education

2024-25 — Continuing Studies, Oil Painting | National Taiwan University of Arts, Taiwan

2021-22 — Continuing Studies, Life Drawing | Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA

2015-18 — Bachelor of Arts, Studio Art | Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA