About The Artist
My work explores abstraction as a way to communicate beyond words—through color, texture, and movement.
I’m drawn to the expressive possibilities of paint to explore emotion, energy, and the natural world. Rather than telling specific stories,
I create open, intuitive spaces that invite viewers to reflect and connect in their own way. Each piece balances spontaneity and intention, shaped by curiosity and a search for harmony within complexity.
Yuan Chen is a California abstract artist born in Fuzhou, China. She migrated to the United States in 1999, settling in the beautiful Bay Area. She started painting again in College of Marin since 2008. She earned a BA in the Practice of Art from UC Berkeley, and graduating from UC Davis with an MFA degree in 2017.
Oil Paint, Acrylic Paint, Mixed Media
Studio Information
Art Works Downtown
Studio #31
Contact Information
(415) 299-9039
Exhibitions & Press
2023 “8th Abstract” Teravarna Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
2022 “Contemporary Bay Area Abstract” Belvedere Tiburon Library Art Gallery, Tiburon, CA.
2022 “Art Weekend” Sausalito Center For The Arts, Sausalito, CA.
2022 “Art For Ukraine” Sausalito Center For The Arts, Sausalito, CA.
2022 Marin Open Studio, San Rafael, CA.
2022 “First Annual Art Exhibit” Archie Williams High School, San Anselmo, CA.
2021 “Harmony” Cedars gallery, San Anselmo, CA.
2021 Marin Open Studio. San Rafael, CA.
2020 “Cherish and Protect” Merritt College, Oakland, CA.
2020 “Spark Art Show” Corte Madera. CA.
2020 Madrigal Show for Marin Open Studio, Sausalito, CA.
2020 “A Moment In Time” Marin Society of Artists Gallery. San Rafael, CA.
2019 “Winter Show” Marin Society of Artists Gallery. San Rafael, CA.
2019 “Bridge to Abstraction” Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
2019 “Alchemy” Arts Guild gallery, Sonoma, CA.
2019 “Hope and Urgency” Smoking Nun gallery, San Francisco, CA.
2019 “Harmony” Cedars gallery, San Anselmo, CA.
2019 Marin Open Studio. San Rafael, CA.
2018 “Memories” Marin Society of Artists Gallery, San Rafael, CA.
2018 “Who Am I?” O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, Mill Valley, CA.
2018 “Generation” Worth Ryder Gallery, UC Berkeley, CA.
2017 “Common Area” Manetti Shrem Museum, Davis, CA.
2017 “Who is US?” Basement Gallery, Davis, CA.
2016 “Ruminant Ground” Beatnik Gallery, Sacramento, CA.
2015 “Mental Throes” Third Space Gallery, Davis, CA.
2015 “Struggle Bus” Berkeley Art Festival, Berkeley, CA.
2015 “Skinterior Just Beige” Headquarters Gallery, Berkeley, CA.
2015 “Prelude” 347 Gallery, Oakland, CA.
2015 “So-So” Fall 2015 Honor’s studio students exhibition Worth Ryder
Gallery. UC Berkeley, CA.
2015 “Take it or Leave it” Worth Ryder Gallery. UC Berkeley, CA.
2014 “Post Glitter” Fall 2014 Honor’s studio students exhibition Worth
Ryder Gallery. UC Berkeley, CA.
2014 “Para-Site: Critical Adaptions and Contingent Relations” Worth Ryder
Gallery. UC Berkeley, CA.
2014 “Remedies” Worth Ryder Gallery. UC Berkeley, CA.
2013 “Emma’s Birds” Worth Ryder Gallery. UC Berkeley, CA.
2013 Marin Open Studio. Fairfax, CA.
2012 “Fiat Lux” Worth Ryder Gallery. UC Berkeley, CA.
2011 “Be Still, Listen” Two person Exhibition ElseWhere Gallery.
Fairfax, CA.
2011 “Art of Giving” ElseWhere Gallery. Fairfax, CA.
2022 First place award at “Visible/Invisible” Marin Society of Artists Gallery. San Rafael, CA
2020 First place award at “Spark Art Show” Corte Madera. CA.
2019 First place award at “Winter Show” Marin Society of Artists Gallery. San Rafael, CA
2017 Fay Nelson Award, UC Davis, CA.
2016 Nominee for Dedalus MFA Fellowship, UC Davis, CA.
2015 Art Practice Departmental Citation, UC Berkeley
Art Practice Sculpture Award, UC Berkeley
2015 Honors in Art Practice, UC Berkeley
2014 Honors in Art Practice, UC Berkeley
2013 “Special Award” from O’Hanlon Center for the Art, CA.
2012 Honorable Mention Award from Fiat Lux Contest
“On the Same Page” program, UC Berkeley, CA.
Education
2017 MFA in Studio Art, University of California, Davis
2015 BA University of California, Berkeley
