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Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
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Untitled Food Chronicles explores how food, memory, and cultural connection can create a sense of belonging. Inspired by Camellia’s travels with her father in Korea, the piece reflects how certain sensory experiences, especially food, can transport us across time and place.
Sharing a meal is one of the most universal acts of care. It is how families gather, strangers become friends, and communities welcome newcomers. In this painting, the bowl of ramen becomes an open door into remembrance, connection, and comfort. For this year’s theme, “Open Doors, Open Hearts,” Camellia wanted to explore what it means to feel welcomed. The work reflects her belief that open hearts are often found in ordinary moments: sharing food, telling stories, and creating spaces where people feel seen and cared for. Sometimes the most meaningful open doors are not physical spaces, but the memories, relationships, and acts of generosity that invite us to feel at home.
About the Artist
Camellia Liu is an artist, researcher, and medical student whose work explores connections across cultures, disciplines, and ways of seeing. Raised between Portland, Oregon, and Beijing, China, she developed an early fascination with how identity is shaped through both tradition and change.
Camellia studied art and psychobiology at UCLA, focusing on graphite and charcoal drawing, oil painting, and a senior capstone that integrated traditional Chinese painting media with Western oil-painting techniques. She is now pursuing a medical degree at OHSU. Whether through art, science, or patient care, Camellia is interested in opening doors between cultures, media, and communities. Her work reflects a belief that meaningful connection begins with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to bridge differences.
Untitled Food Chronicles explores how food, memory, and cultural connection can create a sense of belonging. Inspired by Camellia’s travels with her father in Korea, the piece reflects how certain sensory experiences, especially food, can transport us across time and place.
Sharing a meal is one of the most universal acts of care. It is how families gather, strangers become friends, and communities welcome newcomers. In this painting, the bowl of ramen becomes an open door into remembrance, connection, and comfort. For this year’s theme, “Open Doors, Open Hearts,” Camellia wanted to explore what it means to feel welcomed. The work reflects her belief that open hearts are often found in ordinary moments: sharing food, telling stories, and creating spaces where people feel seen and cared for. Sometimes the most meaningful open doors are not physical spaces, but the memories, relationships, and acts of generosity that invite us to feel at home.
About the Artist
Camellia Liu is an artist, researcher, and medical student whose work explores connections across cultures, disciplines, and ways of seeing. Raised between Portland, Oregon, and Beijing, China, she developed an early fascination with how identity is shaped through both tradition and change.
Camellia studied art and psychobiology at UCLA, focusing on graphite and charcoal drawing, oil painting, and a senior capstone that integrated traditional Chinese painting media with Western oil-painting techniques. She is now pursuing a medical degree at OHSU. Whether through art, science, or patient care, Camellia is interested in opening doors between cultures, media, and communities. Her work reflects a belief that meaningful connection begins with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to bridge differences.
