Zhang Xiaoli
Introduction
Zhang Xiaoli was born in 1989 in Guizhou, China. She received the Ms. Chu Lam Yiu Scholarship and moved to Hong Kong in 2008 to pursue higher education at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where she received her BA with first honours in Fine Arts and Biology in 2014. During the graduation show, she received Y.S Hui Fine Arts Award and Wucius Wong Creative Ink Painting Award. She gained Master degree at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2021.
In her early series, Zhang’s works replaced elements in Chinese landscape painting – trees, mountains, rocks and figures – with depictions of Lego bricks, as a contemporary way to create dialogues with tradition. In the “Boxed Landscape” series, Zhang presented surreal landscapes inside small containers, using the traditional style of gongbi ink painting to depict memories and experiences. Her current series "Private Collection" is inspired by the concept of the Cabinets of Curiosities (Wunderkammer, 15-18th century), incorporating astronomy, physics, physiology, molecular biology, and even mathematical concepts. The small, boxed objects allow a window into the artist's imagination while expressing wisdom, poetry, and beauty.
Her recent important group exhibitions include Youth Will: Beijing Youth Art Biennale, Today Art Museum, Beijing, 2016 and Fresh Trend, Hong Kong City Hall, 2014. Her works have also been exhibited at several international art fairs including; Ink Asia 2017; Off Course Art Fair 2015, Brussels; and Fine Art Asia 2014, Hong Kong. Alisan included Zhang in the 2017 group exhibition Desiring: Post 97 Hong Kong Ink Art; the 2018 women's exhibition HOPE; the 2020 Uniquely Hong Kong; the 2021 Chinese Surrealism; and with sell-out success at Art 021 (2018,2019) and Art Basel HK (2019).
BIOGRAPHY
1989 Born Guiyang, Guizhou, China
2008 Moved to Hong Kong and studied at Chinese University of Hong Kong
2010 Exchange student at the University of California at Berkeley, USA
2014 Bachelor, First Honour, double major in Fine Arts and Biology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2021 Master degree, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
Current Studying for a Ph.D., Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020
- Li Galaxy, Tong Gallery, Beijing, China
2019
- Curio Boxes: Zhang Xiaoli’s Portable Landscapes, Daguan Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022
2021
2020
-
As Time Goes by... New Stories from the Garden, Suzhou Design Week, The Surging Wave Pavillion & Ke Yuan, Suzhou, China
- Uniquely Hong Kong: A Celebration in Hong Kong Art, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
- Contemporary Forms of Ink Painting, Alisan Fine Arts, Art Basel Online Viewing Rooms, Hong Kong
2019
- Art 021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair 2019, Alisan Fine Arts, Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Shanghai, China
- Art Basel Hong Kong, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
2018
-
Affordable Art Fair: Young Talented Program 2018, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
2017
- Desiring: Post 97 Hong Kong Ink Art, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
- Ink Asia, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
- Contemporary Neoclassic: Hong Kong Ink Art, Daguan Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2016
- Beijing Youth Art Biennial, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
- Affordable Art Fair, Metropolitan Pavilion, New York, USA
2015
- 2+2, EC Gallery, Hong Kong
- OFF COURSE: Brussels Art Fair, Brussels, Belgium
- Senses: Exhibition of Works by Young Emerging Hong Kong Artists, University Museum & Art Gallery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2014
- Fresh Trend 2014, Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong
- Fine Art Asia, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
- Graduation Show of Fine Arts Department, Art Museum of Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Lone, Hui's Gallery, Hong Kong
2013
- Our 1989, Taipei National University of Arts, Taipei, Taiwan
SELECTED AWARDS
2014 Y.S. Hui Fine Arts Award
Wucius Wong Creative Ink Painting Award
2013 Convocation Outstanding Creativity Student Award 2012/2013, Chinese University of Hong Kong
2008 Ms. Chu Lam Yiu Scholarship








