Chun-Shan (Sandie) Yi was born and raised in Taiwan. She received a BFA in 2003 from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), with an emphasis in metalworking and fiber and material studies. While in the Master of Arts in Art Therapy (MAAT) program at SAIC, she has worked with people who have mental illness and developmental and/or physical disabilities and burn survivors. Sandie engages art making as a way to raise social awareness, and to re-evaluate disability labels and the beauty standards in society.