Art in the Heart of Innovation: Xiang Li at LabCentral’s Gallery 1832

March 17, 2026 · Fei Wu

When people think of Kendall Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, they think of biotechnology, research labs, and startups working on the future of medicine.

But inside this fast paced world of science, something quieter and deeply human is also taking place.

Art.

Since January 13th and until April 6th 2024, Xiang Li’s silk paintings are installed inside LabCentral as part of an exhibition at Gallery 1832 located at 238 Main Street in Cambridge, MA. Unlike a traditional museum setting, this exhibition lives inside a working environment where scientists, founders, and researchers move through the space every day.

And that changes everything.

A Gallery with a Mission

Gallery 1832 is more than a gallery.

It is a space intentionally created to support women artists and artists of color, giving them visibility inside one of the most influential innovation hubs in the world. Located in Kendall Square in Cambridge, the gallery brings cultural storytelling into a place not typically associated with art.

At LabCentral, people do not come primarily to view exhibitions. They come to build companies, run experiments, raise funding, and solve complex scientific problems, which makes the presence of art even more meaningful. It appears unexpectedly in hallways, meeting areas, and shared spaces, inviting people to pause, even if just for a moment.

Installing Across Multiple Floors at LabCentral

This installation was one of the most physically demanding we have done. Installing artwork in this kind of environment is very different from working in a museum.

There are no quiet, empty galleries waiting for you.

Instead, there are elevators, security checkpoints, active workspaces, and people moving constantly throughout the day.

We carried paintings up and down ladders, across multiple floors, adjusting to different wall sizes, lighting conditions, and layouts. It was labor intensive, at times exhausting, but incredibly rewarding.

Seeing Xiang Li’s work appear in different corners of the office, across walls of varying scale and context, felt almost magical. Each placement created a new conversation.

Ancient Art Meets Everyday Science

Xiang Li’s work is rooted in centuries old techniques. After decades of training in the Forbidden City, she paints on silk using traditional mineral pigments, bringing to life stories of Chinese empresses and historical women.

Now imagine those paintings placed inside a biotech incubator.

Scientists walk by carrying test tubes. Teams move between experiments and meetings. Conversations about data, trials, and research fill the air.

And in the middle of it all, they stop. They look. They ask questions.

Many told us that the artwork brings a sense of joy and calm into their daily routines. Some shared that it offers a moment of solitude in an otherwise intense environment.

I would like to believe that art does more than decorate a space. It transforms it. It shapes how people feel, how they interact with one another, and even how they carry that energy home to their families at the end of the day.

A Night That Made It All Real

LabCentral is not typically open to the public, which made February 26th especially meaningful.

That evening, Xiang Li joined the reception at Gallery 1832, where we welcomed 88 registered guests into the space. It was one of the rare moments when the doors opened for a broader community to gather, connect, and experience the work together.

And this is something I want to emphasize for every artist reading this.

If a venue offers a reception, say yes.
If you have the option to host one, create it.

Because nothing replaces face to face interaction. Not social media. Not video. Not AI.

There is something irreplaceable about meeting people in person, shaking hands, looking them in the eyes, and sharing your work directly.

That evening, I found myself running around constantly, guiding guests through the space, pointing out paintings, answering questions, and connecting people to the stories behind the work.

At the same time, I wished I had more time to sit beside my mom. She was often seated quietly, yet people kept approaching her, drawn to her presence and her work. They greeted her with warmth and admiration, saying things like beautiful, thank you, gorgeous, unbelievable, stunning.

Some even formed small heart shapes with their fingers, a simple gesture that transcended language. Even without perfect translation, the connection was clear.

What AI Cannot Replace

As someone deeply involved in AI, content, and digital media, I think about this often.

AI can help us write, design, translate, and scale ideas in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. But it cannot replace human presence. It cannot replicate the energy of a shared space, the warmth of a conversation, or the subtle emotional exchange that happens when someone encounters art in person.

That evening at LabCentral was a reminder of that truth.

A New Direction for Art

Exhibitions at institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and the Worcester Art Museum are incredibly important and meaningful in their own ways.

But this experience showed us something different. Art does not need to live only in museums. It can live in offices, labs, and innovation spaces where people spend most of their time.

In fact, those may be some of the most important places for art to exist. Because that is where people need it the most.

Looking Ahead

Personally, I would love to do more collaborations like this.

Yes, installing across multiple floors is physically demanding. Yes, it requires time, coordination, and effort. But it is absolutely worth it.

As part of Xiang Li Art, we hope to continue working with organizations, companies, and cultural spaces where this model can be replicated, where art can reach new audiences, and where it can become part of daily life rather than something people experience only occasionally.

Together, art can transform not just spaces, but the people who live and work within them. And that is the kind of impact we hope to continue building.