Born in 1941 in Chengdu, China, Peng Xiancheng is a contemporary Chinese painter whose life and work have been shaped by the upheavals of modern Chinese history. He lost his mother when he was only two years old and, together with his family, survived the Japanese bombing of Chengdu. Although his childhood was marked by hardship, he persevered and ultimately found enduring inspiration in the richness of Chinese culture. He developed a fascination with Chinese ink painting and became deeply familiar with the work of Qi Baishi (1864-1957), Xu Beihong (1895-1953), and Zhang Daqian (1899-1983). In 1962, he graduated from Chengdu Normal School. During his twenties, he joined the Chinese Communist Party and produced propaganda art before turning to teaching in the 1970s.
In 1981, Peng travelled along the Silk Road from Dunhuang to Xinjiang. These experiences deeply influenced his artistic direction and later work. His awards include the Bronze Prize at the 7th National Art Exhibition (1989) and the First Prize at the 2nd National Sports Art Exhibition (1990).
Peng currently lives and works in Chengdu. He is a First-Class Artist, member of the China Artists Association, researcher at China National Academy of Painting, director of the Sichuan Artists Association, and Honorary President of the Shenzhen Alumni Association of the Wuhan Conservatory of Music.
Alisan Fine Arts began representing Peng in 1989 in the group exhibition Modern Chinese Paintings: A Selection from Beijing, Hangzhou and Sichuan at Hong Kong Arts Centre, and held a solo exhibition Peng Xiancheng: A Nostalgia for Ancient China for the artist in 1994. The gallery also brought his work to Tresors in Singapore 3 times (1993, 1994, 1997). In 2024, the Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum in Chengdu held the exhibition Living in Seclusion, Close to Things and Feelings: Peng Xiancheng’s Works Inspired by Du Fu’s Poetry. In 2026, Alisan celebrates its 45th anniversary with the exhibition series "Then and Now," featuring the group exhibition Tradition Renewed showcasing Peng's new works as well as the 1980s.
His works have been collected by the Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA; National Art Museum of China, Beijing; Beijing Fine Art Academy Museum; China National Academy of Painting, Beijing; Sichuan Provincial Museum, Chengdu; Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum, Chengdu; Zhejiang Art Museum, Hangzhou; Shenzhen Art Museum, Shenzhen, China.
