MY PROFILE

Hello! My name is Ziyan Tanya Tan, and I’m a senior at the University of California, San Diego. I have a deep passion for storytelling through art—for transforming feelings, cultures, and fleeting moments into visual narratives that invite reflection and connection.

I find inspiration everywhere: in paintings, music, literature, architecture, people, and animals. Each influence becomes a piece of my creative puzzle, shaping how I see the world and encouraging me to reinterpret it through painting and photography. My work often explores how art bridges individuality and universality—how a single brushstroke or image can speak to shared human emotion.

Beyond personal expression, I am dedicated to using art as a form of social advocacy. I volunteer weekly at a local autism support institution, where I teach children art and dance, and design campaign posters that raise awareness for inclusivity and neurodiversity. These experiences continually remind me that art is not only about beauty—it’s about connection, empathy, and change.