Christina Yao
ARTIST BIO
Christina Yao is a China-born, Calgary-based artist working primarily in photography, video, and installation. Drawing from her experiences living and working across the U.S., Colombia, and Canada, she explores themes of relationships, identity, and place through a cross-cultural lens. Yao holds a Bachelor of Design in Photography (with Distinction) from the Alberta University of the Arts (2024). She was selected as a 2025 Critical Mass Top 200 finalist, a finalist in the 2024 LensCulture Portrait Awards, and was featured in the Emerging Photographers Showcase at the 2024 Exposure Alberta Photo Festival. Her work has been exhibited at Sotheby Institute of Art (New York), ASC Studio (London, UK), Contemporary Calgary, The New Gallery, The Marion Nicoll Gallery, TRUCK Contemporary Art, Stride Gallery, cSPACE, The Bows, and Arts Commons.
ABOUT THIS WORK
Near or Far is an ongoing series of photographic portraits that explore the continuous negotiation of power, trust, and communication within intimate relationships.
As humans, we long to be seen. We crave connection yet often fear revealing our truest selves. Our relationship with ourselves inevitably shapes the way we relate to others.
When viewing this work, one might ask: Do we sometimes seek external validation without first turning inward? Are we willing to truly accept and understand ourselves? Facing moments of self-doubt requires courage. Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and authentic not only deepens our self-understanding but also strengthens our relationships.
