Chen Danqing

Born: 1953

Biography:

Early Life and Education

, a Chinese-American artist, writer, and art critic, was born on August 11, 1953, in Shanghai, China. His family home is in Taishan, Guangdong province. Chen started learning oil painting in secondary school, where he acquainted himself with young artists like Chen Yifei and Xia Baoyuan.

Career in China (1970s-1980s)

After graduating from secondary school at the age of 16, Chen was forced to move to the countryside of southern Ganzhou. Later, with the help of Chen Yifei, he moved to the suburbs of Nanjing and settled down there. During this period, his completed works include "Writing a Letter to Chairman Mao" and "Tears Flooding the Autumnal Fields". Chen's sketches were imitated by his peers and later scholars. In 1978, Chen was admitted to the oil paintings department of China Central Academy of Fine Arts as a graduate student. His thesis work, "Tibetan Paintings", received widespread recognition in 1980, making him a noteworthy Chinese artist.

Moving to the United States (1982)

Chen moved to New York City in 1982 to become a professional painter. Initially, he painted in the Socialist Realist style, earning the title of "most talented oil painter in China". However, his series of paintings about Tibetans, influenced by Jean-François Millet, led to a loss of official support.

Notable Works and Style

Chen's later work retained the sharp, realistic qualities of his Tibetan series, often focusing on portrayals of young women. His style is characterized by intimate and dignified depictions of Tibetans, avoiding patronizing representations of ethnic minorities.

• Chen Danqing's artwork can be found in various collections, including the Tsinghua University Academy of Fine Arts, where he served as a professor from 2000 to 2004.
• His essays on education and urban problems have been published in several volumes, including "New York Suo ji" (2000) and "Waste Collection" (2009).
• Chen participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony, showcasing his prose written in the book of Zhang.

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