Liu Ye
Biography
Born in Beijing in 1964, Liu Ye is a painter whose meticulously composed, vibrantly colored works bridge history and representation. Drawing on Chinese and European cultural references, his inspirations include literary figures like Vladimir Nabokov and Hans Christian Andersen, Chinese icons such as Ruan Lingyu and Eileen Chang, and modernist movements from Bauhaus to Balthus. Over three decades, Liu has developed a body of work that is both historically resonant and deeply personal.
Trained at the Central Academy of Fine Arts and the School of Arts & Crafts in Beijing, Liu later studied at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin and completed a residency at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam. His notable exhibitions include Liu Ye: Pierre Menard (New Century Art Foundation, Beijing, 2021–2022), Storytelling: Liu Ye (Prada Rong Zhai, Shanghai, 2018; Fondazione Prada, Milan, 2020–2021), and solo shows at the Mondriaanhuis and Kunstmuseum Bern. His work was also featured in the 57th Venice Biennale (2017).
Liu’s paintings are held in major public collections, including the Long Museum in Shanghai, M+ Sigg Collection in Hong Kong, and the Museum of Art Pudong. He continues to live and work in Beijing, contributing significantly to both Chinese and global contemporary art.