Hi, my name is Shen Li. I'm a Malaysian-born, self-taught artist living in Los Angeles. After graduating from law school and working for seven years as a lawyer, last year I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue art, which had been one of my first loves as a child.
I create hyper-detailed paintings inspired by nature, fantasy, pop culture, and sociopolitical issues. And pandas! Each painting usually takes me between a few days to one week to complete, using acrylic paint applied with markers and brushes. I don't sketch any of my works before starting. In painting, I am part story-teller, part-listener, and I don't know how it will all end until it does.
Transitioning from law to art has allowed me to experience the world in a whole new way, and to be a different kind of person. I am so glad to be able to share what I love with others! I hope my art moves people to pause, to reflect, and to be happy.
More info: Facebook | shenlistudio.com
Springtime on Panda Mountain
Somewhere high up among the clouds, is a magical place called Panda Mountain. In spring, baby pandas emerge to play as flowers start to bloom
Snow Falling on Panda Mountain
At the first snowfall of the year
baby pandas frolic and tumble in a wintry wonderland
Fishes. When I was a child, we had aquariums full of colorful fish. I loved watching them swim around, each with their own shapes, patterns, and personalities
A Ride to the Galaxy
This painting was inspired by raves, Elon Musk, and The Force Awakens. And humanity's search, in many forms, to understand
What else is out there? And what does this life mean?
Rainforest. I love the tropical rainforests that still cover most of Malaysia, every inch of them full of life
Wetlands. A family of turtles enjoys a swim, a frog guards its almost-hatched eggs
And tiny birds forage for food in the shallow waters
The Dreamcatcher. Somewhere between life and death
A dreamcatcher holds nightmares of secret fears and calamities, real and imaginary
Owl paintings inspired by my wise and beautiful mom
Hansel & Gretel, one of my favorite childhood fairytales. I love the macabre themes in this story, reimagined here as part fairytale, part amusement park, part sugar overload
