Liu Tianlian reimagines the traditional Chinese meticulous brushwork technique (gongbi hua/工笔画) through a contemporary lens. Her practices evolve to explore themes of cultural identity, psychological introspection, social commentary and the tensions of modern society through traditional techniques. Her paintings, often executed on silk with traditional Chinese pigments, creates a distinct narrative to bridge cultural and temporal boundaries.

Since immigrating to the United States in 2023, Liu’s artistic practice has been increasingly inspired by immigrant-centered spaces like nail salons, laundromats, and street vendors. Liu transforms these ordinary spaces into dreamlike narratives that reflect her diasporic life and fantasies. Her intricate compositions, rendered with delicate precision, reinterpret the heritage of gongbi painting while engaging with contemporary concerns.