Born in Shanghai in 1996, Yao Xiaoyao is a painter and screen printing artist. He pursued his undergraduate degree at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and graduated from Cornell University with a full scholarship. His works have been showcased in exhibitions across Chicago, New York, Syracuse, Los Angeles, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Taichung. The absence of people in Yao's paintings imparts an aura of tranquility, tenderness, and a subtly enigmatic ambiance to ordinary scenes. Paradoxically, this very absence steers the viewer into a parallel universe, inviting exploration of the world he portrays. Whether gazing upon a snow-covered cityscape from a rooftop or embarking on a rural road trip in early summer, each scene becomes a cherished little adventure.