Chen Jialing

born 1937 Hangzhou China

lives in Shanghai China

Born in 1937 in Hangzhou, China, Chen Jialing is a renowned traditional Chinese painter and a leading figure of the contemporary "Haipai" Shanghai School, best known for his distinctive lotus paintings. Chen graduated from the Department of Chinese Painting at Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts (now the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou) in 1963, where he studied under Pan Tianshou (1897-1971). From the 1970s onward, he continued his studies in landscape painting and calligraphy under Lu Yanshao (1909-1993). Rooted in tradition yet infused with a strong modern sensibility, his work achieves a remarkable balance between classical refinement and contemporary expression. In his compositions, the colour from traditional ink paintings is modulated and tempered, lending his compositions a distinctive sense of elegance and serenity.

In 2014-2015, his documentary Chen Jialing received three Best Documentary awards, including at the Rome International Film Festival, and he was also presented with the Cultural Ambassador Award by the Hawaii International Film Festival. In 2018, the Chen Jialing Art Museum was established at Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple. He currently lives and works in Shanghai, where he is a professor at Shanghai University Academy of Fine Arts and a research fellow at China National Academy of Painting in Beijing.

His works have been exhibited in more than 20 countries and regions, including the US, Germany, and Japan, including major solo exhibitions at Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy (2007) and National Museum of China in Beijing (2017). In 2024, he presented the exhibition A Life by the River: The Art of Chen Jialing at Réfectoire des Cordeliers in Paris, featuring painted porcelain works of the Iris, the national flower of France, in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France. In the same year, the bilingual publication Aspiring Ever Higher: The Artistic Life of Chen Jialing was released, documenting his artistic career. The two latest solo exhibitions in Shanghai, Vast Impressions: Chen Jialing's Art and Mounting the Green Clouds: Chen Jialing Artwork Exhibition, both ended in June 2026. Major retrospective will be held at Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou in September, 2026. His works are currently on display at Hong Kong M+'s Shanshui: Echoes and Signals.

Alisan Fine Arts has represented Chen Jialing’s lotus paintings since the 1980s, presenting his work in landmark group exhibitions such as A State of Transition: Contemporary Painting from Shanghai in 1987 and Landscapes, Figures, Flowers & Birds: Variation from China in 1990. In 2026, Alisan celebrates its 45th anniversary with the exhibition series "Then and Now," featuring the group exhibition Tradition Renewed: Contemporary Literati Masters showcasing Chen's recent and early works.

Chen’s paintings are in the collection of Cernuschi Museum, Paris, France; National Art Museum of China, Beijing; National Museum of China, Beijing; Zhejiang Art Museum, Hangzhou; Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai; M+, Hong Kong, to name a few.

BIOGRAPHY
1937 Born in Hangzhou, China
1963 Graduated from Chinese painting department, Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts (now China Academy of Art), studying under Pan Tianshou (1897-1971) and Lu Yanshao (1909-1993)
1963-1983 Professor, Chinese painting department, Shanghai University College of Fine Arts (now Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts), Shanghai, China
1986 Lectured at University of Fine Arts in West Berlin, West Berlin, Germany
1987 His lotus flower paintings were featured on the cover of The New Chinese Painting: 1949–1986 by Joan Lebold Cohen, with a special introduction, published by Abrams, New York, USA
1989 Awarded the Silver Prize, 7th National Art Exhibition in China
1994 Participated in "Chinese Modern Ink Painting Academic Seminar" in Taiwan
Participated in the "8th International Academic Conference" organized by the European Chinese Association in Paris, France
1995 Participated in "China-Germany Cultural Month", organised by Ministry of Culture and Media in Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
1997 Exchange activities in the US, organized by Shanghai University College of Fine Arts
1998 Travelled to Canada to participate in the "Top Ten Shanghai Artists On-site Event" organized by Shanghai Jianguo Charity Foundation
Participated in the "Canada through the Eyes of Chinese Painters" event
1999 Participated in the "International Ceramic Festival", Netherlands; and conducted art observation in France, Belgium, Italy, and Greece
2000 Founded Shen Kiln, a fire art salon in Shanghai, China
Travelled to the US visiting Miami, Minnesota, and Los Angeles
2003 Planned the establishment of Peninsula Art Museum, the first private art museum in Shanghai, China
Established Peninsula Porcelain Art Gallery, the first private porcelain art gallery in Shanghai, and also founded a ceramic studio called Ling Kiln
2009-2015 Lectured in the US and mainland China, including at Hawaii Fokuangshan Temple; Peking University, Tsinghua University, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing; China Academy of Art, Hangzhou; Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai; Yuelu Academy in Changsha, Hunan; Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts, Xi'an; National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan
2013 Ling Kiln was recognized as Shanghai's intangible cultural heritage of Hai Pai porcelain art, refers to the avant-garde but unique "East Meets West" culture from Shanghai in the 20th and 21st centuries
2014 Documentary "Chen Jialing" premiered at the Rome International Film Festival in Italy
2015 Documentary "Chen Jialing" premiered in Shanghai, and won four major awards at Brisbane International Film Festival in Australia and Hawaii International Film Festival in the US
2016 President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan of the People's Republic of China, along with 35 heads of state and regional leaders, took a group photo in front of Chen's paintings at the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China
Lotus paintings became the theme background artwork for state banquets held at Waterfront Restaurant of West Lake Guesthouse, Shanghai, China
2019 Chen Jialing Buddhist Art Museum established at Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai, China
Published Chen Jialing's Art, National Museum of China, Beijing, China
Published the art series Shanghai · Footprints: Chen Jialing by Shanghai University Press, Shanghai, China
2021 Shanghai Jiaotong University Museum compiled Red Star Shines on My Journey: Chen Jialing's Works in Revolutionary published by Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House, Shanghai, China
2024 Representative artist commemorating the 60th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations, held a solo exhibition in Paris, showcasing French national flower Iris painted porcelain
Present Lives and works in Shanghai, China

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026

Retrospective, Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China (to be opened in Sept 2026)
Vast Impressions: Chen Jialing's Art, Shanghai Pujiang First Bay 1088 Park, Shanghai, China
Mounting the Green Clouds: Chen Jialing Artwork Exhibition, Chen Jialing Exhibition Hall, Guanyuanyi Art Creative Park, Shanghai, China

2017-2018

Splendid Gathering: Spring Festival Exhibition of Fine Paintings by Shanghai Masters, Huacui Center, Branch of the Shanghai Oil Painting and Sculpture Institute Art Museum, Shanghai, China

2024

Waterfront Ink and Colour: Chen Jialing Art Exhibition - 60th Anniversary of China-France Diplomatic Relations, Cordelier Space, Paris, France

2013, 2017

The Realm of the East: Chen Jialing Art Exhibition, National Museum of China, Beijing, China
Roaming the Mind, Shaanxi History Museum, Xi'an, China
Roaming the Mind, Anhui Provincial Museum (New Hall), Hefei, China

2010

Harmony and Beauty, Zhejiang Art Museum, Hangzhou, China

2009-2010

Roaming the Mind, Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China

2007

Harmony and Beauty, Shanghai Chinese Painting Institute, Shanghai, China
Spirit and Transformation: Chen Jialing Exhibition, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
The Realm of the East, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China

2004

Harmony is Precious: Chen Jialing Art Exhibition, Art World Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

1993

Chen Jialing Painting Exhibition, Hyeon Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
Chen Jialing Art Exhibition, Dragon Art Centre, Taipei, Taiwan

1992

Chen Jialing New Works Exhibition, Plum Blossoms Gallery, Hong Kong; Singapore

1991

Spirit and Transformation: Chen Jialing Exhibition, Singapore Museum, Singapore

1990

Chen Jialing Painting Exhibition, Crown Arts and Culture Centre, Taipei, Taiwan
Spirit and Transformation: Chen Jialing Exhibition, Plum Blossoms Gallery, Hong Kong; Singapore

1989

Solo Exhibition, Plum Blossoms Gallery, Hong Kong

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026

Tradition Renewed: Contemporary Literati Masters, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong

2025

City · Garden: 2025 Exhibition of Works by Teachers and Students of Flower-and-Bird Painting from National Higher Arts Institutions, China Art Museum, Shanghai, China
Painting the Tang Poem, Xie Zhiliu and Chen Peiqiu Art Centre, Shanghai, China

2024-Ongoing

Shanshui: Echoes and Signals, M+, Hong Kong

2006

Shanghai Renowned Painters Exchange Exhibition, Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India

2005

Heaven, Earth, Harmony: Liu Kuo-sung, Chen Jialing, Qiu Deshu,s Shanghai New Ink Art Exhibition, Duolun Modern Art Museum, Shanghai, China

2002

Contemporary Chinese Painting Outstanding Works: Shanghai Exhibition, organized by Shanghai Artists Association and Shanghai Chinese Painting Institute, National Political Consultative Halll, Beijing, China

2001

Asian Peace Art Exhibition, organized by Bijutsu World Co., Ltd., Shinjuku i-Land Aqua Square, Tokyo, Japan

2000

New Chinese Painting Exhibition, Jiangsu Art Museum, Nanjing; Liu Haisu Art Museum, Shanghai, China

1998

1st Shenzhen International Ink Biennial, Shenzhen, China
Shanghai Biennial, Shanghai Art Museum; Liu Haisu Art Museum, Shanghai, China
Shanghai Selection Exhibition, organised by Shanghai Culture Foundation, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China

1996

Shanghai 3-Persons Exhibition, Huacui Art Centre, Shanghai, China
Shanghai Ink Painting Exhibition, Arizona State University Art Museum, Arizona, USA
Contemporary Chinese Painting and Sculpture, Michael Goedhuis, London, UK

1995

East Meets West: Transformations in Late 20th Century Chinese Art, Discovery Museum, Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
China-Germany Cultural Month, organised by Ministry of Culture and Media in Hamburg, Hamburg Art Museum; Hamburg Museum of Arts and Crafts, Hamburg, Germany

1994

Exhibition of Chinese Ink Paintings by 12 Shanghai Artists, co-organised by Shanghai Academy of Chinese Painting and Singapore Haozhen Gallery, Singapore Heritage Museum, Singapore
Invitational Exhibition of Art Exchange between China, Japan, Korea and Hong Kong, organised by Wulingzhuang Art Society, Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong; National Cultural Palace, Beijing, China
Exhibition of Modern Chinese Ink Painting, Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan

1993

The Light of Oriental Art: Exhibition of the First East Asian Games, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China
Exhibition of Modern Ink Paintings by Taiwan and Shanghai, co-organised by Shanghai Xinmin Evening News and Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture for Foreign Countries, Shanghai, China
Exhibition of Modern Art in Shanghai, organised by Shanghai Art Museum, Yokohama Civic Gallery, Yokohama, Japan
Korea Gallery Art Festival, Hyun Gallery, Seoul, Korea

1992

Special Exhibition of Landscape Paintings by Korea and China, Dongsanfang Gallery, Seoul, Korea
Special Exhibition of Paintings of Yangtze River, Dongsanfang Gallery, Seoul, Korea
International Ink-Wash Painting Exhibition : Shenzhen '92, Shenzhen Fine Art Institute, Shenzhen, China

1991

Asian Aesthetics: Modern Chinese Painting, Bend Art Centre Museum, USA
Contemporary Chinese Painting Exhibition, organised by Korea Economic News Agency, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, South Korea

1990

New Generation of Chinese Art, Smith Museum of Fine Arts, USA
Landscapes, Figures, Flowers & Birds: Variation from China, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

1989

7th National Art Exhibition in China, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China

1988

57 International Gallery, New York, USA
Modern Chinese Painting Exhibition, Galerie Oberlicht, West Berlin, Germany

1987

A State of Transition: Contemporary Painting from Shanghai, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

1984

6th National Art Exhibition in China, Nanjing, China

SELECTED AWARDS
2015 Chen Jialing Documentary, Best Documentary Award, 2nd Brisbane Film Festival, Brisbane, Australia
Chen Jialing Documentary, Best Documentary of the Year Award, 11th China-US Film Festival
Chen Jialing Documentary, Best Documentary Award and "Cultural Ambassador", 35th Hawaii International Film Festival, Hawaii, USA
1989 Silver Medal, 7th National Art Exhibition in China, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
1984 Honorable Mention, 6th National Art Exhibition in China, Nanjing, China

SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Cernuschi Museum, Paris, France
National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
National Museum of China, Beijing, China
Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China
Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai, China
Zhejiang Art Museum, Hangzhou, China
Xi'an Art Museum, Xi'an, China
Hefei Museum, Hefei, China
Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China