Baopu #39: The Gloomy Days

Before you go! Autostraddle runs on the reader support of our AF+ Members. If this article meant something to you today — if it informed you or made you smile or feel seen, will you consider joining AF and supporting the people who make this queer media site possible?

Join AF+!

Yao Xiao

Yao Xiao is a China-born illustrator based in New York City. Yao Xiao creates artwork depicting a poetic visual world where complex concepts and human emotions are examined, amplified, and given physical form. Her work has helped people all over the globe connect at unique moments, from the celebration of the 20 Year Anniversary of the SXSW Interactive Festival, to the grand release of pop singer Katy Perry's single 'Dark Horse.' She has created deeply emotional and beautiful graphics for editorial print publications, pop music record covers, concert posters and book covers. Yao Xiao's serialized comic Baopu currently runs monthly on Autostraddle. It is an original comic exploring the nuances in searching for identities, connections and friendships through the fictional life of a young, queer emigrant. Baopu stands for 'holding simplicity,' a Taoist ideal of wishing to return to a simpler state. Find her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Etsy or her website.

Yao has written 128 articles for us.

6 Comments

  1. This is sooo my day, I’ve literally spent the 30 minute drive home trying to remind myself that adults don’t crawl into a corner and cry while slowly crawling into a corner so I can just cry. I forgot about the rainbows after the storm, I’m feeling so much better now that I don’t think I can stop now if I wanted to. I just needed this one ❤️

  2. This is wonderful. When you are under the cloud it’s so easy to forget that it is only temporary. What a great reminder.

  3. i, too, tend to forget that the rain will pass and the rainbow will come out, usually when i least expect it. thank you for your beautiful images and writing.

Comments are closed.