Page 21 - Allison's Magazine ~ Issue #99

Originally envisioning a future
as an oil painter, Yao Cheng
abruptly shifted course into the
AWASH
world of textiles while studying at
Rhode Island School of Design.
IN COLOR
A chance meeting with some
watercolor paints and a tutorial

from a colleague would alter her
interview with yao cheng
written by shelley goldstein
trajectory yet again and set her on
photography by christa kimble
the path to her current career as
an artist and small-business owner
in Columbus, Ohio.

What did your path to the art world
look like? Did your family encourage
your love of art?
I lived in China until I was about eight,
at which time I came to the United
States. My path to art was introduced
really early on by my mom. When I
was four or five, she took me to an art
class in my hometown of Nanchang. I
was immediately hooked; it was a very
instinctual and natural way for me to
express myself from the beginning.

My mom definitely encouraged my
creative side throughout my childhood.
The rest of my family was more of a
mix—many of them were not sure if an
art education would lead to financial
stability. But I knew in my heart that
this was the right path for both my
education and my career.

You graduated from Rhode Island
School of Design with a bachelor of
fine arts in textiles. Was that always
the medium you wanted to pursue?
I initially went to RISD to pursue oil
painting. Around that time, I became
obsessed with knitting. Working with
my hands in such a visceral way was

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