Oscar yi Hou

Oscar yi Hou (b. 2000, Shanghai) is a British-Chinese painter based in New York who creates figurative works that explore themes of identity, queerness, and the diasporic experience. His lush, psychologically charged portraits often depict young people of color navigating questions of selfhood, desire, and cultural belonging, drawing on art historical references ranging from Old Master painting to Chinese scroll traditions. Hou has garnered significant critical attention for his ability to merge personal narrative with broader socio-political commentary, establishing himself as one of the most compelling emerging voices in contemporary portraiture.