Rachael Zhang ‘28
Nov 14, 2025
Last summer, Renee Jin ’26 devoted her time to work on two ambitious art projects that expanded her practice into new territory. Each project explored a distinct theme that unified Jin’s personal vision and creative voice with the contemporary world.
Her first project, the culmination of a year-long dedication, is titled The Study of the Deterioration of the American Housewife. Inspired by post-World War II suburban life, Jin sought to capture what she described as the “monotonous, unseen suffering of women in the 1950s.” Through sharp silhouettes and bold red tones, she reveals the tension beneath the deliberately polished facade of domestic perfection.
The concept emerged from her observations of current social trends. “I was seeing the rise of the ‘trad-wives’ and felt like our country was progressing toward a more conservative route. Instead of moving toward innovation, we were regressing instead,” Jin said. The overturning of Roe v. Wade particularly influenced her emotional outlook. “As a citizen and woman in America, I’ve been growing increasingly concerned with the lack of rights. That sort of emotion really pushed me forward.”
Jin’s second project, Origins in Flame and Tide, shifts from the domestic sphere to the elemental. Featuring contrasting orange and blue tones, the collection revolves around the two forces shaping and sustaining life: water and fire. Jin described water as “the source from which we emerged and the sustainer of our existence,” while fire represents “the force we harnessed to cook, protect, and illuminate the world.”
Her drafting process began with roughly one hundred sketches, which she narrowed down to twenty for development. She experimented with paper, fabrics, and draping techniques before finalizing her designs. Learning to drape fabric, select materials, and translate sketches into clothing presented challenges, especially as this was her first time in fashion design. “I had to figure out what to put underneath, how to attach certain parts, and how to make my drawings more realistic,” she said.
Sydney Caretti, art teacher and Jin’s mentor through her high school studies and overall artistic journey, emphasized her growth: “Clearly she’s been informed through her life by the opportunities that her parents have made available in the arts… She takes her own unique approach.” Caretti described Jin as an artist with “a very unique perspective” and “very thorough, very hungry and very inquisitive; someone who seeks to do the best representation of her interpretation without being influenced by other artists that are already established.” She added that she sees “a bright future for Renee in the arts.”
Jin describes her style as avant-garde and experimental, diverging from the commercial mainstream. “I definitely don’t want to go the commercial route,” she said. “I’m really interested in couture: viewing fashion as an art instead of just everyday wear.” She hopes to attend art school and eventually “start a brand or maybe go to a major fashion house.”
Having completed these first projects, Jin is now exploring new concepts and directions at school. “I really want to create things that are lighthearted, nostalgic, and separate from those other themes,” she said.
Her creative roots run deep. Her father, an artist and art professor, provided Jin with early exposure to the arts, helping her develop the confidence to think independently and experiment freely. Shaped by her upbringing, Jin’s artistic perspective continues to thrive and advance. Grounded in this strong foundation, Jin looks forward to exploring new ideas, materials, techniques, and styles. She is a young artist poised to make her mark on the world of fashion and art.