Kai Liu is a Chinese-Canadian artist whose practice is rooted in painting and extends into printmaking and mixed media. Through a semi-abstract approach grounded in observation, his work explores the relationships between landscape, nature, and the experience of migration. Guided by an interest in how perception, place, and cultural transition shape visual language, Liu draws from Eastern aesthetics to create works that reveal a balance between stillness and movement, structure and openness, clarity and ambiguity.
Born and raised in China, Liu initially pursued studies in drawing and painting before establishing himself as an animator. Subsequently, he relocated to Canada. After gaining experience as a graphic designer in Ontario, he moved to British Columbia to further his education in the visual arts, studying printmaking at Langara College and obtaining both a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Emily Carr University of Art + Design. His work has been exhibited across Canada and featured in various publications. In addition to his studio practice, Liu is also engaged in teaching visual arts within academic and workshop environments.