Xiao Wang’s figurative paintings combine dramatic and moody color palettes with a realist approach. The artist primarily uses oil paint, frequently taking inspiration from real life in works that recall romantic, symbolist and magical realist paintings. Wang’s compositions depict uneasy figures and uncanny landscapes in distorted colors, exploring feelings of uncertainty and anxiety resulting from contemporary issues—including climate change and political unrest—as well as the artist’s own experience as a Chinese immigrant.