Singapore-born, London-trained, MessyMsxi is the moniker artist Zi Xi came up with while she was at Central Saint Martins as her course mates and friends had difficulties pronouncing her distinctively Chinese name. With its alliterative ring, MessyMsxi is not only memorable, it also hints at Zi Xi’s belief that the creative process is inherently messy, that the truest works spring from moments of spontaneity and inspiration.

Since graduating in 2009 with an honours degree in Graphic Design (Illustration Major), Zi Xi has gone on to carve out a reputation for herself as an illustrator. Her works have won her acclaim almost from the start. Zi Xi was conferred “New Talent of Year 2010” in the London International Creative Competition for her seminal series Ten Years of Work for Every Minute on Stage. In 2013, she was winner of the “Most Inspiring Award” in the Great Women of Our Time 2013, an annual award by The Singapore Women’s Weekly that honours the achievements of the nation’s most inspiring women. In 2019, Zi Xi was nominated “40 Under 40” by Singapore Prestige Awards for her distinguished installation and art on Environmental advocacy. Most recently, she was recognised by Tatler’s Gen.T List 2021 as a young leader in the industry.

In recognition of her talent and unique style, Zi Xi has also been invited to work on numerous projects with collaborators as diverse as graphic designers, fashion labels and museums. Never one to stand still, Zi Xi constantly seeks new ways to express herself, exploring media and forms out of her comfort zone. Always striving for meaning in her work; she pushes beyond the decorative into the narrative, be it a personal view of a subject close to her heart or an acute commentary on larger social issues.

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MessyMsxi