Shaw / Yiran Xiao is a multidisciplinary media artist and researcher based in Southern California, whose work lies at the intersection of art, technology, and human experience. Currently as a Ph.D. student in Media Arts and Technology at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), her research focuses on data visualization, generative art, and machine learning to explore how digital systems shape human experience and society.
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Through her visualizations, Shaw renders the hidden operations of technology visible, revealing the aesthetic qualities embedded within data and algorithms. She prompts reflection on the ways digital infrastructures impact autonomy, cultural values, and individual identity.

As an instructor in Media Arts & Design Minor, UCSB, she teaches creative coding and web technologies, emphasizing the conceptual and narrative potential of digital art forms. Her courses encourage students to merge technical skills with artistic expression to create meaningful digital artworks.