Longwen Miao
(Mervin)
They/Them

Hi guys！ I am an artist devoted to intertwining nature, human memory, and culture through visual storytelling. After earning my BFA in Illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art, I am now studying at the Rhode Island School of Design, focusing on digital painting, illustration, and narrative art that explores the profound connections between humanity and the natural world. My work goes beyond simple landscapes or portraits, aiming instead to unearth the latent dialogue between people and their surroundings.

To me, art—especially illustration—is an intensely personal and introspective creation. Everything we experience, from eating and drinking to playing, watching, listening, and speaking, ultimately converges into our unique visual language. The real distinction lies in how an artist decodes the hidden messages within their work and shapes a style and narrative that are uniquely their own. In my artwork, narrative plays a central role. I strive not only for a visually captivating and powerful presence but also aim for my work to evoke an undeniable emotional impact in viewers—whether positive or negative—something they simply cannot look away from.









Interview

https://voyagela.com/interview/conversations-with-longwen-miao





Awards

2025 – HongKong hands - ILLUSMONTAGE 2026 ,  Featured Artist
2025 – Honorable Mention – 3 x 3 International Illustration Show No.22
2025 – Divide Magazine, Featured Artist – Issue 14
2022 – Finalist – Hiii Illustration International Competition
2019 – 2nd Place – Washington State Youth Art Competition
2017 – Honorable Mention – Congressional Art Competition

Exhibitions

2025 – RISD Biennual Show ‘ Common Ground’  Exhibition, Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence  RI
2025 – Group Exhibition, Harvard Gallery, Boston, MA
2024 – Shadows in the Heights, Naturist Gallery of Contemporary Art,  Surrealism Exhibition
2022 – Guidance, East Village Art Collection (EVAC), New York, NY