In this new series, I shrink my signature I Am Not Cute style onto 3x3 notepad-sized canvases—tiny, confrontational works that pack a punch. Painting vintage dolls with deadpan eyes and defiant slogans like I am not cute and go away, I’m exploring the tension between surface sweetness and internal resistance. The decision to go small is also a response to the gallery’s note that tiny works are often labeled “cute.” I wanted to play with that expectation, inviting viewers to lean in closer, only to be met with an unexpected attitude. These pieces may be pocket-sized, but they carry the same bite and boldness as my larger works, condensed into a deceptively delicate frame.—Sheryl Fan

Sherly Fan is a multimedia artist and filmmaker whose work explores identity, emotional intimacy, and the aesthetics of cuteness as quiet rebellion. Drawing from her background in fashion, experimental documentary, and installation, she works across painting, film, VR/AR/AI, and performance.

Fan uses hearts, flowers, vintage plush toys, and candy-colored palettes to reclaim softness as strength. Her work plays in the tension between sincerity and irony—where nothing is taken too seriously, but everything still matters. Through playful yet emotionally layered visuals, she creates spaces where vulnerability is not weakness, but presence.

Originally from China, Sherly lives and works in New York and New Jersey. She holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, FIT, and Duke University. Her work has been exhibited at Sojourner Gallery, John Molloy Gallery, the BLANC Gallery, A Space Gallery, :iidrr Gallery, and Galerie Shibumi.