Blindfolded with a knife in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, multi-media artist Jon Tsoi stands before a blank canvas. The silence of the audience is suddenly broken by violent slashes as he tears through the canvas. He splatters a bucket of multicolored paint across the surface chosen not by sight, but pure intuition. In this act of release, Tsoi reveals the delicate balance between chaos and balance and the coexistence of creation and destruction. The audience doesn’t just witness Tsoi creating art, but a collective meditation on the human experience.

Jon Tsoi’s work has spanned over 25 years in New York and internationally. Rooted deeply in Taoist philosophy and his experience fleeing China’s turbulent environment in the 1970s, Tsoi’s art transcends the traditional boundaries of American contemporary art. He is known for his blindfolded live performances that invite viewer participation, exploring themes of inner balance, intuition, and renewal.

Tsoi’s art has been exhibited in several galleries across New York, including the American Vision Gallery, Studio 57, the Fernando Luis Alvarez Gallery, and the Whitebox Gallery. He has also been displayed in Italy and China. Most recently, Tsoi showcased his work at the Hamptons Fine Art Fair, where he featured works created during his live performances.

Tsoi was born and raised in the province of Schezwan, China, in 1958. He recalls starting his artistic journey at the tender age of 5, when his parents recognized his artistic desires and opted to enroll him in art classes. When he graduated high school, he was sent away to the countryside to work as a farmer.

Tsoi recalls, “We were living in nature and I drew strength and inspiration from that. It toughened me up and made me able to endure. That harsh environment became a positive force.” (Saatchi Art ft. Jon Tsui)

Living in China during the Cultural Revolution, Tsoi witnessed ubiquitous violence and tragedy, and he wasn’t able to create art freely. This prompted him and his family to relocate to the Connecticut area in 1979. While living here, he worked a variety of jobs such as pant sewing and dishwashing to help pay for English classes. At the same time, he took art classes at Montclair State College in New Jersey and the Art Students League of New York.

In addition to his education in art, Tsoi is also a trained medical practitioner specializing in acupuncture and herbal treatment. Since immigrating to the US, Tsoi has opened practices across Connecticut and New York, and his spiritual beliefs greatly influence his artistic methods.

Throughout his time in art school, Tsoi started making abstract paintings on plywood and paper to support himself. He became interested in incorporating an audience, hoping to share his methodology and spirituality with the world. Today, Tsoi is known for his prioritization of philosophy over medium. With taoism at the center of his artistry, his mediums are only a vessel for his peaceful and calling to action methodology.