Hello, I’m Rao.

I was born in Beijing, China, and currently live in Shanghai.

I originally studied Chinese opera directing in college and spent a few years as a stage actor after graduation. But let’s be honest—acting wasn’t exactly paying the bills. So, I switched careers and landed a job at an international brand consulting firm, starting with event planning before gradually moving into marketing and communications. Then, at 31, I decided to leave my life in China behind and move to New York, where I spent five years, completed a master’s degree in sustainability, and started creating art on the side.

My creative journey began in 2018 when I moved to NYC. It started simple—just me, my phone, a tripod, and a lot of self-timer shots. I would edit the images on my computer, adding or altering elements as if I were painting. Maybe it’s my background in theater directing, but I naturally approach my work like staging a play—setting up the scene, deciding the characters’ roles, and then playing every single one of them myself. It’s a process that feels oddly complete, from script to set design, costumes, directing, and finally, the final image.

At first, I just posted my work on social media for fun. I had no formal training in photography or painting, so I never even considered it “art.” But then friends started telling me my work was interesting, media outlets reached out, and I thought, “Oh? This is art?” Of course, some people disagreed, saying they’d never seen art like this before. But honestly, I don’t care whether it’s called art or not. I just enjoy making things in my free time—expressing my ideas through images. That’s all that matters to me.

Besides photography, I’ve also dabbled in installations, random doodles (which may or may not count as illustrations—who knows?), and whatever else feels right in the moment. My work is just an extension of my observations and thoughts.

Hope you enjoy it!