Studio art and philosophy alumna explores loss and memory through painting

Growing up in a small town in China, Xiangjie Rebecca Wu ’22 had always hoped to attend college in the United States. As an international student at The College of Wooster, she wasn’t sure what to expect. “But when I came here, I felt like I really belonged at Wooster,” she said. “It was the perfect place for me to study.” 

Even before setting foot on campus, Wu knew she wanted to study studio art. As an avid painter, it seemed natural to continue that passion in college. Working with Marina Mangubi, Eugene and Charlene Derge Sussel Professor of Studio Art, she developed foundational art and research skills. Outside of the studio, Wu found an unexpected interest in philosophy. “I enjoyed reading philosophy books, enjoyed the class, and enjoyed arguing,” Wu said, attributing her newfound passion to her advisor Evan Riley, associate professor of philosophy. 

In both academic disciplines, she emphasized how her professors pushed her to keep asking questions, expanding ideas, and challenging her imagination. “There is something so important about teaching, about education happening in a small group of people,” Wu said. “There is something intimate about the transmission of knowledge that happens between your professors, your colleagues, and yourself.” 

Blending her work in studio art and philosophy, Wu’s Independent Study was inspired by the women in her upbringing, whose dedication to their children and families became a central focus in her reflection on feminism, independence, and motherhood. “The tension between autonomy and the traditional demands and sacrifices of motherhood troubled me — as a philosophical question and a real-life dilemma,” she said. Drawing on feminist philosophies, Wu explored this tension through both a solo exhibition and a thesis paper titled “Women, Autonomy, Authenticity, and Motherhood.” 

In addition to her thesis, she created a series of oil paintings, each depicting a woman in her life. Her work was displayed in a solo exhibition at Ebert Art Center. Wu saw her I.S. not as a graduation requirement or formal academic paper, but as a personal experience and deeper exploration of her friends and family. “I think people should try to enjoy the process of I.S., rather than just the end, because the process was actually the most important thing that helped me grow,” she said. 

After graduating from Wooster in 2022, Wu left the Midwest and headed to Brooklyn, New York, to complete a master’s degree in painting and drawing at Pratt Institute. “Wooster definitely prepared me with a good academic background for attending a very competitive, self-driven Master of Fine Arts program in New York,” Wu said. 

Drawing on memories of her upbringing along the Yangtze River in Jiangyin, China, Wu’s work explores the relationship between past and present, and how that complex dynamic shapes identity and space. Her oil paintings depict peaceful, yet melancholy scenes centered on themes of loss, memory, and time. 

Wu decided to stay in New York, where she works as a freelance artist. After being featured in publications including New York Weekly, Create! Magazine, and Artsy, in May 2025, the global art market platform Arnet identified Wu as one of five noteworthy emerging artists to watch. 

In addition to being featured in numerous articles, her paintings have been shown in galleries across the United States and China. Each gallery space offers a unique experience for communication and collaboration. “The way you place your work and the way you try to talk about your work, is going to shape people’s experience with your work,” Wu said. 

Wu’s most recent solo exhibition, Joy of Yesterday, opened in May 2025 at Make Room Los Angeles, a contemporary art gallery in the center of LA. “It’s a series of works reflecting on my childhood and my life, and the sense of loss in little moments we all experience,” she said. 

As Wu continues to make a name for herself in the global art scene, she reflected on turning her passion for creating art into a fulfilling career: “I just really love art. I’m so lucky that I can make money from it as well. It’s become the main part of my life to make the work I want to make, have the shows and an audience, and also have the community in New York.” 

Featured image: Xiangjie Rebecca Wu ’22, photo provided by subject.

Posted in Alumni on February 13, 2026.