He made over $100,000 in tech. Five years later, he staged his first art show as a goodbye to NYC.

Andrew Tsao, a 34-year-old artist and life coach from California originally raised in Taiwan, recently completed his first art exhibition "The Art of Surrender" in New York City after a career transition from a lucrative tech job. Tsao transitioned from a six-figure tech job to becoming an artist in New York City five years ago, after going through a series of hardships and realizations.

His financial situation took a dive after a layoff from his six-figure tech job during the pandemic, which resulted in his income dropping to less than $25,000. To cope with the situation, Tsao started receiving Medicaid-subsidized therapy and physical therapy, which proved to be a game-changer. The therapy helped him heal emotionally, and the physical therapy alleviated chronic pain in his shoulder, which he attributed to his desk job and recreational bouldering.

Tsao used his newfound financial freedom to explore his passion for art further. He opened his first solo exhibition, "The Art of Surrender," at T.O.L.K., a Bushwick café and art gallery, in mid to late July. The exhibition featured his artwork and served as a farewell to the city he called home for 13 years. Despite selling only his first four pieces, Tsao managed to stay within his planned budget, largely due to the owners of the café who did not charge a commission.

Throughout his time in New York City, Tsao had to make significant lifestyle changes to afford his artistic pursuits. He began cooking instead of ordering delivery, limited his social outings, and opted for longer subway commutes over Uber rides. He also tapped into free resources like the Culture Pass, which offers New Yorkers free access to museums and libraries, and discovered free resources like the Brooklyn Public Library. Despite the financial challenges, Tsao found ways to enjoy living in New York City on a budget.