Hi, I’m Helen Ai He, a fine artist and human-computer interaction researcher.

My story of how I became an artist, began with my grandfather.

From our fourth floor apartment in Beijing, we would sit by the light of the window, lay out our brushes, paints, and a perfect sheet of rice paper. I was 5 years old.

Soon, we’d lose ourselves in creation – as white turned into color, formless into form, and emptiness into imagination. Is there anything better than making art?

As a young child, I had the privilege of learning from wonderful art teachers who taught me to how to realistically capture a scene (or a perfectly round egg). Later, as an adult, I transitioned from accuracy as a focus, to the expression of emotion and the making of art to heal. The process (not the outcome) of creating art — allowed me to feel deeply in ways that I otherwise could not access. Thus, the works you see on this site, are my exploration of art as a way to better know myself. To meet myself.

As Elizabeth Gilbert writes in her book Big Magic – Creative Living Beyond Fear:

“A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life. Living in this manner—continually and stubbornly bringing forth the jewels that are hidden within you—is a fine art, in and of itself.”

So, onwards, dear friends. Go forth and live your most creative life. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting mine.

The signature stamps below were made by my grandfather.

© Copyright All Rights Reserved 何艾: Helen Ai He