SHOWCASE

/ ARTIST / 2026

ARTIST: Yiran Li
COUNTRY: China
CONTACT: instagram.com/yiranliyiran
Yiran Li is an illustrator and printmaker based in China. She works primarily with colored pencils, creating delicate and dreamlike worlds inspired by nature, mythology, dreams, and symbolic imagery.

Drawing from traditional printmaking aesthetics, her works explore themes of memory, emotions, and the connection between humans and the natural world. Through detailed illustrations, she invites viewers into quiet spaces between reality and imagination.

Herba Lunaria Menor

Inspired by medieval herbal manuscripts, this illustration presents a mystical allegory of cosmic partnership.
At its heart is Herba Lunaria (Moonwort), a plant of alchemical lore rumored to wax and wane with the lunar cycle—growing a leaf a day until full, then shedding them as the moon fades. Revered by medieval alchemists for its power to transmute metals into silver, it is paired here symmetrically with its celestial counterpart, Sunwort, representing the balance of day and night, silver and gold.
Beneath them, their roots converge into a pair of hands with open eyes, symbolizing a grounded, conscious connection. Reimagining the concept of 'soulmates', this piece portrays them not as two separate entities, but as an interconnected whole, finding perfect harmony and recognition in each other’s presence.

Lazy Afternoon

A sleeping sheep represents the ultimate state of urban relaxation. This minimalist, whimsical piece captures that unique 'cafe people' energy of being fully present yet completely lost in a peaceful daydream, detached from the frantic pace of life.

Exit Velocity

Set against a theatrical circus backdrop, a courageous snow leopard makes a daring leap through fire. It is a striking metaphor for breakthrough and transformation—capturing the exact split-second of courage required to escape limits and jump toward destiny.

Alien Garden

Against a deep blue outer space, a flying dog glides through a galaxy of hand-applied silver foil stars. One fallen star touches down, taking root in this otherworldly soil. This piece captures a magical cosmic germination—where the universe is a garden waiting to bloom.

Almost Together

A black bird and a white bird briefly cross paths in a quiet, misty forest, capturing the bittersweet beauty of a near-miss.

In the Glow

Guided by fate, the black and white birds finally reunite beside a glowing forest fountain, bathing in a moment of warm, magical light.

Kinyoubi Yume

Inspired by a dream, this watercolor captures the moment a white crescent moon breaks into birds, descending from a deep blue sky above the darkened Kinkaku-ji Temple. Here, birds serve as a visual metaphor for the fleeting, magical nature of dreams.

Azure Wasteland

Against a backdrop of distant mountains and an ancient vampire castle, a swarm of black bats emerges from the dark side of the moon. Serving as a companion piece, this whimsical watercolor explores the deeper, shadowed side of dreams.

Spine of the Sky

Rendered in delicate colored pencil, this piece depicts a sacred serpent coiled around a cosmic holy tree. Serving as the literal "spine of the sky," the serpent symbolizes the ancient, winding connection between earth and the heavens, bridging the physical and the divine.

Wheel of Fortune

A colored pencil depiction of the classic Tarot card, symbolizing the constant flow of time, fate, and life’s changing cycles.