Rong’s agent and muse Yaoyao Xu in her office

Rong possessed by her snake Azai




Rong Xu is an illustrator and visual artist based in Providence, RI and Brooklyn, NY, whose aesthetic vision merges Asian classical art traditions with Romantic sensibilities. Her work is characterized by thoughtful symbolism and organic shapes, deeply influenced by Taoist philosophy that emphasizes harmony and natural balance. 
Rong specializes in character design, cover illustrations, and book illustrations, bringing meticulous attention to both visual quality and thematic expression. In her personal work, she is drawn to exploring mythology, nature, feminism, and environmental science—subjects that reflect her belief in the powerful interplay between aesthetics and values. Whether working on commissioned projects or personal series, Rong strives to create images that resonate with both visual impact and meaningful depth.


[EDUCATION]School of Visual ArtsBachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration | 2018-2022

Rhode Island School of Design (graduating)Master of Fine Arts in Illustration | 2023-2025


[AWARDS]
5th place Grand Award Winner - INFECTED BY ART | 01/2023
  • "Constellations: The White Tiger of The West" won the silver award in the Digital/Photoshop category
  • 5th Place Grand Prize in Volume 11 competition

Merit Award - COMMUNICATION ARTS | 02/2023
  • Illustration Self-Promotion category: "Constellations: The White Tiger of The West"

Merit Award - IJUNGLE | 02/2023
  • Illustration Self-promotion category: "Constellations: The White Tiger of The West" and "Constellations: The Black Tortoise of the North"

Finalist - GOLDEN PINWHEEL | 09/2023
  • Commercial Illustration category: "She" illustration series of 4


[OTHER EXPERIENCE]
Research Assistant, Material & Picture Collection | Fleet Library, Providence, USA | 
02/2025-present
  • Assist with research, management and organization of visual materials and resources
  • Support research needs of illustration and design students
  • Contribute to maintaining and developing the library's visual reference collection

Teaching Assistant | Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, USA | 09/2023-present
  • Sophomore Drawing: Perspective (2023 Fall)
  • Sophomore Drawing: Figure (2024 Spring)
  • Intermediate Digital (2024 Fall & 2025 Spring)

Online Lecturer | Canaan Global Academy, Toronto, Canada | 09/2022-12/2022
  • Taught Communicative Technology of Art class to 11th-12th graders
  • Content included Photography, Digital Drawing, Branding, and Typography
  • Provided guidance on idea generation, color selection, composition, and techniques

Researcher and Writer | Wonderland Jewelry Designer's Brand, Changsha, China | 06/2022-08/2023
  • Researched history of jewelry, Eastern and Western fashion, and gemology for content creation
  • Integrated academic materials for promotional jewelry popularization content

Assistant Animation Compositor | "Graph Your Story" Animation Project, New York, USA | 04/2022-05/2022
  • Performed frame positioning and color cleaning
  • Project selected for Portland Film Festival and Austrian Film Festival










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All copyright reserved ©Rong Xu 2025