Notre Dame Celebrates Year of the Horse with Student Artwork

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The University of Notre Dame's Beijing campus has selected 14-year-old Yien (Ian) Tan as the artist for their 2026 Year of the Horse Zodiac painting. Tan's work, titled "Heavenly Horse," blends Western and Eastern artistic traditions, reflecting a growing trend of cross-cultural collaboration in the arts.

Why it matters

This initiative demonstrates Notre Dame's commitment to global engagement and the intentional blending of Eastern and Western artistic traditions. It speaks to a larger trend of increased cross-cultural artistic dialogue, driven by globalization and a desire for more inclusive representation in the arts.

The details

Yien's 'Heavenly Horse' painting incorporates Western symbolic elements, like wings, onto a traditionally Chinese subject matter. This fusion of styles reflects a growing desire to find common ground and shared narratives across cultures. Beyond just creating visually appealing art, this trend is about building bridges of understanding between different artistic traditions.

• The University of Notre Dame's Beijing campus announced Yien (Ian) Tan as the selected artist in 2026.

What’s next

The University of Notre Dame will host an exhibition showcasing Yien's 'Heavenly Horse' painting and other student artwork celebrating the Year of the Horse in February 2026.