Effie Wanyi Li
(b. 1995, CN)
Effie Wanyi Li is a Chinese artist based in London who examines the connections between the body, mind, and thought, which are often taken for granted. Her painterly practice is rooted in the exploration of how the body registers emotional fluctuations and how internal states shape thought processes. Li’s paintings aim to document these relationships in her characteristic visual language through which inner experiences can be articulated and felt.
For the artist, painting is the designated medium to be able to visualize and materialize the triangle of psychological impulses and emotional reactions as they intertwine with physical sensations. Her compositions, rendered in palettes reminiscent of flesh and bruising, feature biomorphic shapes resembling the forms of internal organs while simultaneously transforming them into exuberant landscapes and dazzling floral motifs. Her work echoes the symbolic depth of William Blake’s illuminated books, the organic topographies of Judy Chicago’s line and use of color, the unique bodily dimensions and explorations of Loie Hollowell, and the luminosity of Louise Giovanelli’s flickering oil paintings.
Li constructs a sense of perspectival depth through high contrasts of light and shadow, translating her experiences into spatialized forms on canvas. She guides the viewer’s gaze across the surface of her works with sinuous lines and twisted knots, scrabbling into deep recesses and grazing the delicate tendrils that shape her interpretation of corporeal experience. Wanyi Li states, “The body is a core thing in my practice. It’s not only the subject matter of the paintings but is also the vessel in which I observe my emotions and feelings, and the tool that actually makes the works.”
Her journey into painting began during a period of anxiety, a time when she became acutely aware of the body’s response to mental distress. Through painting, she tries to understand the exchange of what one physically experiences in relation to what one emotionally feels, gradually uncovering an intangible yet powerful link between the body and mind. Over time, this exploration deepened, evolving into a structured investigation of bodily responses and cognitive dissonance. Li’s paintings capture moments of tension and transformation, using juxtapositions such as movement and stillness, expansion, and contraction to convey the negotiation between emotion and rationality visually. Apollonian forces do not only collocate Dyonisain’s urges. Apollo transforms into Dionysus and vice versa.
Her recent works emphasize “trigger points,” elements that both initiate compositions and disrupt their balance. These points generate uncanny tensions across the canvas, mirroring how personal trauma affects individuals differently. Inspired by traditional Chinese acupuncture, Li works towards identifying internal points precisely as a means to release energy and reorganize disorder. Her paintings function similarly, mapping out moments of convergence where emotional tension surfaces and takes shape. This continuous interplay between stability and disruption is central to her practice, enabling her to capture the delicate yet undeniable states of the human condition.
Li often focuses on specific bodily regions where emotions are stored and processed. Initially centering on the abdominal area—considered a core site of emotional generation—her work expanded to include the chest and throat, where emotions manifest and find expression. By doing so, she explores how internal landscapes shift in response to changing external and internal conditions. This unique focus resulted in her work being featured in exhibitions exploring embodiment, transformation, and themes of resilience. Notably, her solo exhibition Yet Always Blooming at T293 Gallery in Rome examined those interconnections between mental states, bodily sensations, and external environments. The exhibition title encapsulates the theme of continuous transformation, ingenuously exploring the human capacity for renewal despite adversity.
Born in 1995 in China, and currently residing and working in London, the United Kingdom, Li holds a BA in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design (2019) and completed an MA in Painting at the Royal College of Art in 2023. Since graduating, Effie Wanyi Li has exhibited at gallery venues from reputable to industry-leading, encompassing a solo exhibition at T293 Gallery in Rome, Italy, and group exhibitions at Unit London, the United Kingdom; Cadet Capela in Paris, France; Perrotin in Shanghai, China; Harper’s Gallery in New York, the United States of America; and Thaddaeus Ropac at Ely House in London, the United Kingdom.
Cover image: Installation view of “Effie Wanyi Li: Yet Always Blooming” (2024) at T293 Gallery in Rome, IT.
Last Updated on March 26, 2025
About the author:
Sylvia Walker (b. 1986, US) is an art historian, essayist, art critic, and curator. After contributing to numerous publications, and curating exhibitions in the United States of America and beyond, she currently works as the assistant director of Contemporary Art Issue (CAI).
