Su Yu-Xin's 'Searching the Sky for Gold' at Orange County Museum of Art blends global landscapes with material alchemy

Su Yu-Xin, a Taiwanese artist, showcased her inaugural solo exhibition in the U.S. at the Orange County Museum of Art in Costa Mesa, California, from January 31 to May 25, 2025. Entitled 'Searching the Sky for Gold,' the exhibition displayed twelve expansive paintings depicting landscapes from the U.S., Taiwan, Japan, and Indonesia, utilizing materials such as shells and volcanic dust. The title alludes to the California Gold Rush of the mid-19th century, during which one-fifth of the prospectors were Chinese. Su's artwork merges Chinese shanshui, Japanese nihonga, and Western oil painting, drawing inspiration from Italian Futurism. Notable pieces include 'With or Without the Sun #3 (2024)' and 'Dust Crown (Mount St. Helens)' (2024), showcasing her diverse influences and hybrid artistic approach.