Yu Hong makes large-scale figurative paintings that depict contemporary Chinese life. As she saw China’s rapid societal changes, the artist, who was schooled in the Socialist Realist school, created a style that particularly and individually mirrored her own experiences and those of her generation. Yu Hong views her work through a decidedly feminine prism, considering the link between the individual – particularly the position of the woman in society – and the larger community. She typically uses acrylic paint, pastels, fabric dye on canvas, silk, and resin.
She depicts individuals in groups, alone, or at home against basic backdrops. She will occasionally add a photograph of the person she has painted in her painting.