Annie Xiao

I create at the intersection of memory, material, and motion. My practice blends handcrafted traditions with experimental storytelling, using tactile processes—like papermaking, ceramics, and textile work—as narrative devices. Each project begins with a question: How can an object hold emotion? 

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Working across mediums—from analog animation to digital design—I’m drawn to liminal spaces and quiet contradictions: softness within chaos, stillness within movement, and ritual within rupture. Whether I’m binding petals into paper or coding the flicker of neon light, my work is guided by a deep respect for process and imperfection.

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Themes of nostalgia, transformation, and the unseen often guide my practice. Overlooked materials inspire me, lost languages of craft and the emotional residue left behind by objects and spaces. I seek to build stories that feel both ancient and speculative, personal yet porous—inviting others to project their interpretations.

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My goal is not just to create artifacts but also immersive, cinematic, and deeply human encounters.