OIL PAINT AND 24K GOLD LEAF CHICAGO, USA Shirley Yang Crutchfield is a Chicago-based artist who integrates her dynamic career as a tech entrepreneur with her passion for creating art. She has been awarded multiple international art prizes, recognizing her exceptional talent and vision. Shirley started her career as a successful tech founder and executive. She sold her company to follow her childhood aspiration of becoming an artist. Her work is influenced by Byzantine art, Baroque and contemporary aesthetics, fashion, and the portrayal of strong female figures. Previously as a female entrepreneur navigating a competitive industry, Shirley's experiences inspire her to create narratives that highlight the hard work, tenacity and perseverance required to reach the top. Shirley successfully employs the traditional 14th-century Italian water gilding technique, "doratura a guazzo," in her art, acquired from Master Guilders worldwide. This expertise allows her to craft astonishingly detailed works adorned with 24K gold leaf, elevating her paintings in realms of beauty and significance. Through her art, her detailed craftsmanship and use of materials, she celebrates the strength and resilience behind success, inviting viewers to appreciate the stories that lie beneath the surface. Shirley has exhibited at galleries internationally, including Dacia Gallery (New York), Chicago Fine Art Salon (Chicago), Echo Park Art (Los Angeles), and Las Laguna Art Gallery (Laguna Beach).