From Beijing to Boston: A Mother-Daughter Journey in Art and Identity
March 31, 2025 · Fei Wu
At the recent ASIA Club Annual Meeting at the College of the Holy Cross, I had the honor of giving a talk about immigration, identity, and the creative collaboration between a mother and daughter that now spans continents and decades.
I came to the U.S. at 17. It was a two-week blur after my birthday, and then I was on a plane from Beijing to Maine with five other students. Everything changed.
My story began at Fryeburg Academy in Maine, where I embraced not only a new language and culture, but also new activities—ice hockey and taekwondo just before I started college in Boston. I eventually trained in martial arts for over 15 years. But the heart of my presentation was about my mother, Xiang Li, and the evolving project that brought us even closer together: a shared artistic legacy.
Watch the video
My mom, Xiang Li, is a master artist trained in the Forbidden City in Beijing. She didn’t move permanently to the U.S. until 2019. Before that, she traveled between China and America to visit me. In 2012, she began painting what is now our renowned collection of Chinese empresses—each portrait created with mineral pigments and gemstone colors on silk scrolls.
It’s rare to see a mother-daughter duo building a business together—especially in art. But it has changed our lives.
Today, Xiang Li Art is more than just a collection of exquisite paintings—it’s a platform for storytelling, culture, and connection. I’ve been deeply moved to see women of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities resonate with the empresses portrayed in my mother’s work.
Highlights from our exhibition experiences
- Harvard Museums Chinese Festival (2024): A pivotal exhibit that helped open doors to more opportunities
- Museum of Fine Arts Boston (2025): Part of their Chinese New Year celebration
- Worcester Art Museum and Mass General Hospital: Hosting and showcasing my mom’s paintings in powerful public spaces
What’s Next?
I’m excited to announce our upcoming summer exhibit at the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill (June 14 – August 24, 2025), where original paintings and large-scale canvases will be displayed alongside local and Asian flora.
We are selling originals of her paintings right now, but many art prints, stretched canvas and wearables are sold through our Shopify store here.
More important, we’re building something much deeper—a movement of cultural storytelling. And the connections we’ve made mean everything.
Key Lessons from My Talk:
- Good things take time—success isn’t linear
- Start now, even if you have to start small
- Your past experiences—even in corporate jobs—can help fund and shape your passion projects
- Connection is more powerful than fame
- Build relationships slowly and with intention
Thank you to the College of the Holy Cross and the ASIA Club for creating space for stories like ours. Stay tuned for more updates on our exhibitions, collaborations, and community events here.