About the Artist

Nancy XiáoRong Valentine (she/her) is a Chinese American artist based in rural Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Born in 1992 as the second child of a family in Lanzhou during China's 'One Child Policy,' her mother immigrated to Minnesota to give her the opportunity of life. Though always recognized for her creativity, Nancy launched her artistic career in 2016 after moving into the Kaddatz Artist Lofts, where she self-taught watercolor painting.

Nancy creates nuanced visual narratives using watercolor, Chinese ink, mixed and digital media. Her expressive brushwork, inspired by Chinese calligraphy, weaves symbolism connecting her Chinese heritage and Midwestern roots. Nancy pairs her visual work with prose and storytelling to evoke empathy and foster cultural understanding.

Her artistic growth is supported by grants from the Lake Region Arts Council and Minnesota State Arts Board. Her public engagement includes the traveling exhibition "The Audacity to be Asian in Rural America," which bridges cultural gaps across rural Minnesota.

Nancy engages the community through speaking, mentoring young artists, and live-painting at regional community festivals. As Executive Director of Kaddatz Galleries, a 2022-2024 Rural Regenerator Fellow, and a Rural Innovator recognized by the Biden/Harris Administration, she embodies her belief that artistry and advocacy work together to create slow-cycle change in rural communities.