Portland Luxury Boutique Features Local Artist to Celebrate Lunar New Year

The Luxury Exchange (TLE) will celebrate the Lunar New Year with Interconnectedness, a solo exhibition by Chinese-born, Portland-based artist Lin Yang. On view February 16 through April 25, 2026, the exhibition will host an opening reception on Saturday, February 21.

Lunar New Year, which is observed across many Asian cultures, officially begins February 17. It marks a time of renewal, reflection, and new beginnings. The Year of the Horse—associated with freedom, movement, and resilience—sets the tone for Yang’s exhibition, which explores how humans, nature, and everyday materials are deeply interconnected.

Presented inside TLE’s Portland storefront, Interconnectedness features original paintings, hanging sculptures, and limited-edition prints. Yang’s work invites viewers to reconsider what is considered art, waste, or value—and how transformation can be both personal and collective.

“Interconnectedness is not a difficult idea,” said Yang. “It simply means that we are all connected—clouds, animals, humans, plants, and even the objects we live with every day. We come from the same origin. We are children of nature, siblings of plants and animals, and we are never alone.”

The exhibition is structured around three recurring motifs—clouds, horse, and grass—which appear throughout the work as symbols of balance, freedom, and rootedness. Delicate hanging sculptures made from natural and reclaimed materials float overhead, while contemporary calligraphic works and linocut prints reinterpret the Chinese character for “horse” through an ancient script and a modern lens. Large-scale paintings inspired by Yang’s rural upbringing in northwestern China ground the exhibition in memory and landscape.

The show closely aligns with the boutique’s values of sustainability, accessibility, and community storytelling. Known for extending the life of luxury goods through resale, TLE continues to position itself as a space for craftsman aficionados — where art, fashion, and thoughtful consumption intersect.

“This exhibition reflects what we stand for at The Luxury Exchange,” said Beth Anundi, co-owner of The Luxury Exchange. “Lin’s work speaks to second lives, transformation, and intentional choices—ideas that are central to both sustainability and creative expression.”

The opening reception celebrating the Lunar New Year will take place Saturday, February 21, from 2:28–3:58 PM, and is free and open to the public. A representation of the level of intention with the exhibit, even the time itself was selected for its cultural significance. The number eight is traditionally associated with luck and prosperity in Lunar New Year celebrations.

Exhibition Details 
Artist: Lin Yang 
Dates: February 16 – April 25, 2026
Opening Reception Celebrating the Lunar New Year: Saturday, February 21, 2:28–3:58 PM
Location: The Luxury Exchange, 528 SW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 

Lin Yang is a multidisciplinary artist working in painting, mixed media, printmaking, installation, and sculpture. Born and raised in China, she holds a PhD in Material Science and Engineering and later pursued formal fine arts training. Her work explores identity, sustainability, and humanity’s relationship with nature, drawing from personal memory, philosophy, and everyday life.

https://www.linyang.art/ 

The Luxury Exchange is a Portland-based sustainable luxury boutique dedicated to giving high-end fashion and accessories a second life. Through resale and in-store cultural programming, TLE creates an accessible, community-driven space where luxury feels personal, creative, and intentional.

 https://www.theluxuryexchangepdx.com/