Xia Li A Joyous Blend Of Human Connection And Tradition

Born in Macau, in the beautiful Five Female Mountain in China in 1968, Xia Li discover art at early childhood.

- Viviana Puello

Through the years, Li has developed a unique style of ink portrait painting that  combines Chinese painting with modern Western painting techniques; Li uses Xuan paper and color ink to create what she calls 'Xia's Creative Ink Portrait Painting' and 'Chinese-Western Art.'

Xia Li graduated from Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts and learned figurative painting from Professor Xu Yong, a leading painter of his time. During her studies, she created the series “The Stronger the Youth, the Stronger the Nation,” which is now a series of large-scale Mongolian subject paintings.

She continued her studies with Professor Zhang Hui, recognized by his masterful gestural flower and bird paintings. In the meanwhile, she fully immersed herself in Chinese traditional calligraphy, music, Tai Chi, and sought a new visual language to express the essence of Chinese culture.

After moving to Los Angeles, Xia Li developed a keen interest in Western art and life-size portraits. She creatively combines the gestural spirit of Chinese painting and the realistic vocabulary of Western art, with the use of traditional medium to present western subjects.

Li finds inspiration from her travels and surroundings. After a trip to Mongolia where she had the opportunity to spent time with the locals and join their daily routine, horse riding, milking cows and watching wrestling games, Xia Li was inspired to create a series of Mongolian wrestlers capturing their energy and vitality.