Dena Xia is an animator, illustrator, and graphic designer based in the United States. Born in Shanghai and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, she was accepted into the School of Visual Arts’ prestigious Animation program on Silas Rhodes scholarship, where she was president of the Figure Drawing Club and attended their academic honors program.

Dena believes in a multicultural approach to art and animation, informed by her own global upbringing. She believes that animation and storytelling are an important way of humanizing and enriching cultures and bringing communities together around the world, telling stories that inspire hope.

Dena’s work is extensively informed by her travels. She loves taking photos of the places she been for reference. Her deft skill as an artist has been lauded by peers, commending her for a strong foundation skill in perspective, color, and design.