Yuxiao (Maverick) Ran (b. 1996, Chengdu, China) is a painter who lives and works in London. In 2020, Ran obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. and he is now pursuing his Painting MA at Royal College of Art in London, U.K. Ran's paintings are a reflection of his present experiences, composed using a "collage-like" approach that brings together images and motifs from diverse cultural spaces and times. His spontaneous method of working means that he seldom makes sketches, instead allowing the canvas to guide him. This approach often results in an intriguing juxtaposition of unexpected images, such as a summer sky from his hometown of Yongchuan, or a scissor blade hanging from a nail. Through this playful arrangement of images, Ran seeks to challenge our habitual ways of reading symbols and images. By extracting pictorial language from its original contexts, he encourages viewers to question their assumptions and explore new perspectives. This process can be chaotic and without clear logic, but for Ran, it reflects the realism of the contemporary social environment in which we live. As both the creator, spectator, and critic of his work, Ran does not claim ownership over the symbols and meanings within his paintings. Instead, these meanings are fluid and elusive, inviting viewers to engage with them on their own terms. With every viewing, Ran's paintings are reborn, inviting fresh interpretations and dialogue.