Art is Love: Xiang Li Art at Holy Cross Prior Performing Arts Center
May 20, 2025 · Fei Wu
On a crisp November evening in 2024, something unforgettable unfolded in Worcester, Massachusetts. We had the incredible honor of joining students, artists, and educators at the Prior Performing Arts Center at the College of the Holy Cross, for an arts showcase hosted by ASIA (Advocating Student Interests in Asia).
Organized by a passionate student team, this multicultural event uplifted the work of Asian and Asian American artists from across New England. As a mother-daughter duo—Xiang Li and I (Fei Wu)—we were invited to exhibit over two dozen large-scale canvas reproductions from Xiang Li’s Chinese Empresses collection throughout the performing arts center. It was an extraordinary sight, as these empresses stood tall in a space filled with music, stories, and awe.
I was also invited to give a 15-minute presentation. My talk, titled “Art Is Love”, became a heartfelt reflection on Xiang Li’s journey as an artist and what it means for us to tell these stories together.
“Art Is Love” — Highlights from My Talk
We opened with a tribute to those who traveled near and far, including our dear friends Dorie Clark and Alexis Redding, who had just gotten married. Their surprise presence lit up the night.
Below is a series of photos taken by Dorie Clark. They became some of Xiang Li’s favorite photos of all time.
I spoke about how my mother began this monumental project at age 60—deciding to paint all 200+ Chinese empresses using untreated silk, mineral pigments, and gold. Her commitment to resurrecting women often erased from history moved the room. These weren’t black-and-white figures behind palace walls anymore. My mother brought them to life—full of emotion, strength, and color.
I shared glimpses of our journey: from the Forbidden City, where she spent nearly four decades restoring ancient masterpieces, to our new chapter in America, where we now share these works with communities through hospitals, botanical gardens, and exhibitions like this one at Holy Cross.
As I said that evening:
“Art is love—as opposed to competition about who’s better or worse. We want people to feel seen and empowered.”
Photos taken from the back of the audience (thank you Professor Ren Ke!). Love the variety to show you more of what the event felt like.
We also talked about the unlikely beginnings of this collaboration: how I introduced my mom to Instagram during the pandemic, and how she—at 72—is now inspiring young women through her videos, wearable art, and museum shows.
Some of the most touching moments came during Q&A, when students asked about the empresses’ inspirations, the cold palace where neglected empresses once lived, and why this mission resonated so deeply with us. One student asked whether this work was influenced by being a mother-daughter team. The answer is a resounding yes.
“I don’t have children, but these empresses feel like my daughters. They’ve been forgotten. We’re here to tell their stories.”
More Than an Exhibition
The event at Holy Cross wasn’t just about art. It was about remembrance. Empowerment. And reimagining legacy. We’re deeply thankful to ASIA, the Prior Performing Arts Center, and everyone who made this moment possible.
If you missed it, don’t worry. A video of the talk will be available on our site soon.
And if you’re nearby, don’t forget to visit our window installation at the Denholm Building (484 Main Street, Worcester), where dozens of empresses greet the city each day.