Annie Shao is an artist, scientist, and birder based in Minneapolis. She has been painting for 18 years and specializes in watercolor. At a young age, Annie was taught gongbi and xieyi Chinese watercolor styles. Over time, she incorporated elements of these traditional techniques into her self-taught style. She uses Chinese calligraphy ink and brushes with Western paints and paper in her watercolor works, a reflection of her Chinese-American background.
In 2020, she combined two of her passions and started her Life List series, a project to paint all the native bird species she has encountered in the wild, known as “lifers.” She has over 400 species on her life list and has completed more than 150 paintings in this series to date. To highlight the importance of wildlife conservation, most of these paintings depict the birds in their natural environment and with native flora. This exhibit showcases 12 bird species found in Minnesota that are vulnerable or of special conservation concern due to climate change.
Annie earned her PhD in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics from the University of Minnesota in 2022. She is currently a senior research scientist in the Department of Surgery at UMN.
This exhibit will be on display until September 30 in the Ramsey County Library in Roseville, opens a new window in the main atrium.
Website: annieshaoart.carrd.co, opens a new window
Instagram: @annieshaoart
BlueSky: @annieshaoart.bsky.social
Facebook: Annie Shao Art