My research lies at the intersection of contemporary art, philosophy, and anthropology, focusing on how artistic practices engage with existential and social issues. Through oil painting, portraiture, and phenomenological analysis, I explore the relationship between individuals and their environments, particularly in marginalized communities.

One of my key areas of interest is the role of portraiture as a method of inquiry. My doctoral research, 100 Rooms, examined the existential crises of young people in the UK through a series of 55 oil portraits and recorded narratives, drawing on Heideggerian phenomenology. This project underscored my broader interest in the capacity of painting to serve as both documentation and dialogue, capturing the presence and subjectivity of individuals beyond traditional representation.

I have collaborated with over twenty charitable organizations in Taiwan, France, and the UK, painting portraits of sex workers, homeless individuals, school dropouts, waste collectors, and elderly people living alone (2023–2025). My socially engaged practice extends beyond the studio, utilizing portraiture as a means of connection, advocacy, and visibility in public and community spaces. These projects explore how artistic intervention can challenge dominant narratives and create alternative spaces for recognition.

Additionally, my research extends to the intersection of art and medicine. As an Art Consultant for the Taiwan Clinical Chinese Medicine Association (T.C.C.M.A.) and Art Editor for the Taiwan Journal of Clinical Chinese Medicine, I actively explore the visual representation of medical knowledge. My forthcoming book, Herbs, Patterns, and Needles: A Guide to Taiwanese Medicine, reinterprets traditional Taiwanese herbal prescriptions through British textile patterns, blending historical medical knowledge with contemporary visual culture. This project reflects my ongoing interest in how visual art can translate and reinterpret cultural and scientific knowledge across disciplines.

Furthermore, I engage with cultural policy and governance through academic research. In 2026, my paper will be published in Cultural Policy and Governance in Taiwan, a book for which I also serve as a peer reviewer. Through this research, I hope to contribute to the advancement of Taiwan’s cultural policy by providing insights that bridge artistic practice, academic discourse, and policy-making.

Moving forward, I aim to further investigate how artistic methodologies—particularly portraiture and material experimentation—can contribute to interdisciplinary dialogues on identity, memory, and social structures. Through both practice-based and theoretical approaches, I seek to challenge conventional boundaries in art research and expand the possibilities of artistic engagement in contemporary society.

2024    Solo Exhibition: ‘May I Have the Honour to Paint You a Portrait?‘ Invited by Poor people’s Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan.

2024    Solo Exhibition: ‘Under the Stars: An International Field Painting Project with the Homeless‘. Grant for International Cultural Exchange from the National Culture and Arts Foundation, Paris, France.

2024    Recipient of the Global Talent Visa for exceptional talent in arts, awarded by the Royal Society of Arts, UK.

2023    Solo Exhibition: ‘100 Rooms- Painting as a Means of Phenomenological Investigation of Being-there‘, The Storey Gallery, Lancaster, UK.

2023    Solo Exhibition: ‘Light Through the Cracks – Portraits of the Forsaken’, IMMA, Taipei, Taiwan.

2020    “Remembering Resistance”, Women’s History and Art Project. Highly commended by the Women’s History Network, UK.

Chang, Yun Chu (2025).      Comparative Study of Policies for Attracting International Artistic Talent: UK vs. Taiwan. In Taiwan Cultural Policy and Cultural Governance (expected publication February 2026). Serving as co-author, peer reviewer, and editorial board member.

Chang, Yun Chu (2025).      A Comparative Analysis of Spike Island and Non-Capital Artist Support Agencies in Taiwan. Paper under review in Taiwan Association of Cultural Policy Studies, Taiwan.

Chang, Yun Chu, & Chen, Chi Fang (2025).      Herbs, Patterns, and Needles: A Guide to Taiwanese Medicine. Art and medical collaboration book under review, supported by the National Culture and Arts Foundation, Taiwan.

Chang, Yun Chu (2024).      The Gaze of Time: Ethnographic Depth Through Oil Painting and Photography Fieldwork Comparison. Presented at the Taiwan Society for Anthropology and Ethnology Annual Conference, Taitung, Taiwan.

Chang, Yun Chu (2024).      How Does Transnational Cultural Learning Experience Impact GTAs’ Work Experience in UK Universities? Postgraduate Pedagogies Journal, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 340–366, ISSN 2633-9870, UK.

Chang, Yun Chu (2023).      100 Rooms: Painting as a Means of Phenomenological Investigation of Being-There. Doctoral thesis, Lancaster University, UK.

Chang, Yun Chu (2022)       Three anatomical pictures were collected and published in ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine Best Practices of Wellness‘, ISBN: 9786263435056

Chang, Yun Chu (2020)       ‘Culture studies through practice: oil painting, colour and race’, NAFAE call and response presentation, Postgraduate Art and Design, Royal College of Art

2017-2023      Ph.D. Fine Art, Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts, Lancaster University, UK.

2022      Completed the Associate Teacher Programme (ATP) and received an Associate Fellowship of the HEA (AFHEA).

2012-2015      M.F.A., Department of Fine Arts, National Taiwan University of Arts, Taiwan.
(Distinction)

2005-2009      B.A., Department of Arts and Design, National Tsinghua University, Taiwan.
(Distinction)