Victo Ngai is an internationally recognised artist, named on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, awarded five Gold Medals from the Society of Illustrators, and the first Chinese artist to receive the Hamilton Gold Medal. Her work is known for its intricate detail, layered storytelling and striking use of colour.
But despite working primarily in a digital medium, Victo has never defined herself by it.
“I never really thought of myself as a digital artist or a female artist,” she says. “Just an artist.”
Even so, when working digitally, Victo’s tools are crucial to the process. So, to mark the launch of the XPPen Artist Pro 27 (Gen 2), XPPen spoke to Victo to explore her creative journey, artistic philosophy, and the ideas that shape her work. The Artist Pro 27 (Gen 2) is positioned as a Color Master Touchscreen Drawing Display, it completes XPPen's premium Artist Pro lineup spanning from 14 to 27 inches, delivering professional-grade performance – making it the perfect tool for an artist like Victo.
Originally from Hong Kong and now based in Los Angeles, Victo has built a distinctive visual language that blends cultural influence, fine linework and richly imagined compositions. Her approach to process, however, remains grounded in a simple idea: the medium is secondary to the message.
“Digital is a tool,” she explains. “Just like watercolour or oil painting. It’s what I use in my work because it’s the most effective.”
How the XPPen Artist Pro 27 (Gen 2) empowers artistic expression
For Victo, the role of digital tools is not to define the work, but to support it so seamlessly that they fade into the background. When a tool is working well, it becomes an extension of the artist. The process feels fluid, uninterrupted, and intuitive.
That is where professional-grade devices are crucial. Tools need to keep up with the demands of highly detailed illustration, nuanced colour work and complex compositions without getting in the way.
Devices like the XPPen Artist Pro 27 (Gen 2) fit naturally into Victo’s workflow as it has a range of user-centric features, designed to make it feel like it’s not even there.
“I like that it’s matte,” she says. “It feels more like paper, and it’s easier on my eyes.”
The expansive 27-inch 4K display provides the space needed to build intricate compositions while still allowing for more gestural, expressive drawing. This balance between scale and precision is essential for artists who move between loose exploration and detailed refinement.
An artistic voice shaped by experience
Defining that voice is not something Victo finds straightforward.
“There’s a Chinese saying, ‘dang ju zhe mi’, which means if you’re in the middle of it, you cannot see the big picture,” she says. For Victo, style is not something consciously constructed. It is the result of lived experience, instinct and personal preference.
“I draw the way I draw because of my own experiences and my own preferences.”
She seems to frame art as an evolving process rather than a fixed identity, one that continues to shift as her perspective changes over time. And the agile nature of digital creation feels like a perfect fit for this philosophy.
Rethinking colour and perception
While line, form and composition came naturally to Victo, colour was something she had to study more deliberately. In doing so, she had to unlearn her preconceptions.
“One misconception I had as a student was thinking that when something feels darker, it means it’s desaturated. But that’s actually the opposite.”
By analysing paintings, often using digital tools like a colour dropper, she began to understand how colour behaves in context.
“Some of the most highly saturated colours are in the shadows,” she explains. “That’s what makes them feel vibrant and alive.”
Rather than existing in isolation, colours are defined by their relationships with those around them.
“Sometimes a colour might look very green, but if you actually isolate it, it’s more of a grey. It’s because the environment has a lot of red in it, a lot of complementary colours. So colour never really exists in isolation.”
Her perspective continues to evolve in personal ways too. Where she once avoided pink, preferring more neutral tones, her daughter’s love of the colour shifted her view – something she now applies in her work.
“I started using that in my artwork as well. Depending on how you pair it, pink can look pretty edgy and pretty cool.”
Supporting the creative process with the right technology
Victo also highlights the physical design of the XPPen Artist Pro 27 (Gen 2), particularly its adjustable stand.
“I really appreciate the lever at the back, which allows you to seamlessly transition between different angles.”
For artists who spend long hours at their desk, these practical considerations make a meaningful difference to comfort and workflow, and make them as uncumbersome as possible.
Colour accuracy is another key factor, especially for an artist as in tune with colour as Victo. With 1.07 billion colours and Calman Verified accuracy, the display supports the kind of nuanced colour relationships that are central to Victo’s work.
Precision, flexibility and flow
Another feature Victo values is the inclusion of two different stylus options, each suited to a different stage of the creative process.
“The thicker one feels better for more gestural, loose work, like colouring,” she explains. “Whereas the thinner one feels more like a technical pencil. It’s really good for drafting and precise work.”
This flexibility allows her to move seamlessly between expressive mark-making and fine detail, reflecting the varied demands of contemporary illustration.
With advanced pressure sensitivity and a highly responsive drawing experience, tools like the Artist Pro 27 (Gen 2) are designed to support that full creative range.
Where vision meets execution
For Victo Ngai creativity is not about the tools themselves, but what they enable.
At their best, digital tools remove friction. They allow artists to focus entirely on their ideas, translating vision into finished work with clarity and control. When sensitively designed in a user-centric way, the tool becomes invisible and the artist’s voice can come through most clearly.
The XPPen Artist Pro 27 (Gen 2) is precisely that kind of tool. Launched on March 20, this flagship display embodies a philosophy where high-end technology aligns with the artist’s intuition.
The Artist Pro 27 (Gen 2) is now available at $1,899 USD, with a 10% launch discount available through April 20. It is also available for €1,999 / £1,799 with a special launch offer. For professionals ready to elevate their digital workflow, it offers a seamless bridge between vision and finished work. (Pricing and promotional offers may vary by region)
