Xiaoqing Ding studied traditional art techniques in Beijing before moving to the United States, where she began painting figurative allegories that draw heavily on her experience of contemporary American life. Her work, which explores universal themes such as the struggle between good and evil, references Chinese mythology and dark European fairytales. Reminiscent of the dreamy surrealism of Julie Heffernan and the erotic imagery of Ray Caesar and Lisa Yuskavage, Ding’s work depicts sexually liberated, powerful women.