Annie Dong is a self-taught artist who combined her Bachelor's degree in art and psychology to gain a better understanding of ways to influence people around her using art as a tool. She is proud to be a first-generation college student and high-school graduate to both of her parents who migrated to the United States from China Fuzhou, Fujian. Annie was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, and was raised by her grandmother in China until she was six years old. She enjoys being mixed in two different cultures and diversities and is fluent in both languages, Chinese Mandarin and English. As a child, art has always been her outlet to deal with mental health issues and overcome obstacles; it was also a means for her to communicate with her educators while learning the English language. Dong’s body of work combines visual elements of Chinese culture and her personal memories of growing up in both China and the United States. Feeling out of place, this sense of disorientation was deepened by the language barrier between English and Chinese. This is further explored through her use of color and art.