Teresa Yuan was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan.  When she was 19 she moved to the United States to study painting at the Art Student League while pursuing instruction from various Chinese watercolor artists.  She later transferred to Pratt Institute where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in oil painting.

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Her spiritual beliefs are incredibly strong.  Teresa studied Zen meditation while in New York City and consequently became a firm believer in Buddhism. It is because of this strong influence and connection to the moment, combined with her love of nature, she instills her appreciation for beauty into her still life paintings.  Her inspiration derives from the subjects and lives that surround her and, as a gardener, flowers, vegetables, and landscapes are some of the most popular subjects in her paintings.  In 1978 she moved from New York City to Martha’s Vineyard to pursue her interests and raise a family. 

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In the winter of 2009, in pursuit of inspiration and new approaches to painting, Teresa attended a workshop with Ellen Rolli in Boston. That winter she started experimenting with big big brushes on little canvases and found it to be a fresh and inspiring form of expression.  During this time she began using acrylics instead of oils as another way to articulate depth perspective and color.

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Traveling has been exceptionally inspirational in her work, opening her eyes to an array of ideas and perceptions emanating from the many wonders of China, Bali, Taiwan and India. Her travels have allowed her to see things differently and to paint in ways she has not before. Her home on Martha’s Vineyard is the haven where she combines her passions and experiences into her paintings to share with other travelers and locals alike.