Fang Zhaoling

born 1914 Wuxi China
died 2006 Hong Kong
Born to a scholarly family in the city of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China in 1914, Fang Zhaoling was a precocious child with strong interests in Chinese calligraphy. She studied bird-and-flower painting under Chen Jiucun (1898-1958) and landscape painting under Qian Songyan (1899-1985) while at Wuxi Art College. When she was nineteen, she participated in the “White Wave Painting Society” exhibition in Wuxi. Her talent and knowledge of Chinese ink art were evident even at a young age. By 1950, she had immigrated to Hong Kong and was a student of Zhao Shao-ang (1905-1998), a leading proponent of the second generation of the Lingnan School. Under his guidance, she produced primarily bird-and-flower paintings. By 1953, she had become a student of the renowned painter Zhang Daqian (1899-1983) , canonical artist of twentieth century Chinese ink painting. During the 1960s, she studied paintings by Wu Changshuo (1844-1927) and Qi Baishi (1864-1957) in great detail, learning to use their freestyle method of cursive calligraphy to create paintings. During the 1960s-1970s she joined Zhang in Brazil and California, painting with him and participating in several overseas exhibitions. She passed away in 2006.

Since 1933, for over a century, Fang has held more than 70 solo and group exhibitions. Signature solo exhibitions include A Tribute to Fang Zhaoling, Ink Society, Hong Kong, 2024; Painting Her Way: The Ink Art of Fang Zhaoling, Asia Society Hong Kong, 2017; Paintings by Fang Zhaoling: A Century Exhibition, Ashmolean Museum, UK, 2014; Dr. Fang Zhaoling's Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, Zhejiang West Lake Art Museum, China, 2006; Fang Zhaoling: A Life in Painting, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, USA, 2005; An Ode to Earth and Life: The World of Fang Zhaoling, Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, Japan, 2000. In addition, solo exhibitions of Fang were held in the 1980s and 1990s at institutions such as National Art Museum of China, Beijing;  Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai;  Hong Kong Museum of Art, and Fung Ping Shan Museum at the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Important joint exhibitions in recent years include, Canton Modern: Art & Visual Culture 1900s-1970s, M+, Hong Kong, 2025; Women in Art: Hong Kong, Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge, UK, 2019.

Alisan Fine Arts has been representing Fang since the 1990s. In 2012 we held a solo exhibition Fang Zhaoling: Vigorous and Fresh Chinese Ink Painting for her and has included her work in numerous group exhibitions.

Her work is present in numerous important collections, including the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco; British Museum; Victoria & Albert Museum; Shanghai Art Museum; Hong Kong Museum of Art; M+, Hong Kong; University Museum and Art Gallery, University of Hong Kong. Her works have also been featured in many publications and monographs.


SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2024

  • A Tribute to Fang Zhaoling, Fine Art Asia, Ink Society, Hong Kong
  • A Life Journey of  Painting: The Ink Art of Fang Zhaoling, True Light Middle School, Hong Kong

2021

2017

  • Painting Her Way: The Ink Art of Fang Zhaoling, Asia Society, Hong Kong

2014

  • Paintings by Fang Zhaoling: A Century Exhibition, Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, UK

2012

2006

  • Solo Exhibition, Zhejiang West Lake Art Museum, Hangzhou, China

2005

  • Fang Zhaoling: A Life in Painting, Chong-Moon Lee Centre for Asian Art and Culture, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, San Francisco, USA

2001

  • Solo Exhibition, Hong Kong Central Library, Hong Kong

2000

  • An Ode to Earth and Life: The World of Fang Zhaoling, Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan

1999

  • Works by Dr. Fang Zhaoling, Soka Gakkai International of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

1997

  • Solo exhibition of calligraphy and painting, Shanghai Art Museum; National Art Miseum of China, Beijing; Shenzhen Art Museum, Shenzhen, China; Kulturzen-Trumvilla Sachsen, Katholische Akademie, Germany

1994  

  • The Passionate Realm: A Retrospective of Fang Zhaoling, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong

1988 

  • Chinese Ink Painting by Fang Zhaoling, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

1986  

  • Solo exhibition, Hefei Museum, Anhui, China

1984  

  • Fang Zhaoling 70th Anniversary Exhibition, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

1983 

  • Solo exhibition, organised by Shanghai Ministry of Culture, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China

1981 

  • Solo exhibition, by Ministry of Culture, National Art Museum of China, Beijing; Nanjing, Wuxi, China

    1977  

    • Solo exhibition, Raya Gallery, Melbourne, Australia

    1973, 1975    

    • Solo exhibition, Mickelson Gallery, Washington DC, USA

      1972   

      • Solo Exhibition, Hugh Moss Gallery, London, UK

      1971  

      • Solo exhibition, Tsikuchai, Hong Kong

      1968    

      • Fang Zhaoling Paintings, Grosvenor Gallery, London, UK
      1963
      • Fang Zhaoling: Chinese Scroll Paintings, Pioneer Museum; Haggin Galleries, Stockton, California, USA
      1962  
      • Solo exhibition, Foyles Art Gallery, London; Durham University, Durham, UK

      1961

      • Solo exhibition, Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore; St. John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong

      1960 

      • Solo exhibition, Doll and Richards Gallery, Boston; Kennedy Gallery, New York, USA; Montreal, Canada
      • Solo exhibition, De Young Memorial Museum; Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco, USA

      1958

      • Paintings and Calligraphy by Fang Zhaoling, University of Oregon Mseum of Art, Eugene, USA

      1957-1958

      • Solo exhibition, University of Oxford, Oxford; University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

      1956

      • Solo exhibition, Hong Kong Chinese Women’s Club, Hong Kong

      1955

      • Solo exhibition, Fung Ping Shan Library, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
      • Solo exhibition, sponsored by China Society, Penang, Malaysia


      SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

      2026
      2025-2026
      • Engaging Past Wisdom: Min Chiu Society at Sixty-five, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
      2025
      • Canton Modern: Art & Visual Culture 1900s-1970s, M+, Hong Kong
      2024
      • Momentous Mountains: The Artistic, Philosophical and Cultural Engagement with Chinese Landscape Painting, University Museum and Art Gallery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
      2023

      2020

      2019

      2018

      2017

      2016

      2013
      2012
      • Modern Chinese Ink Paintings: A Century of New Directions, British Museum, London, UK
      2010
      • Legacy & Creations: Ink Art vs Ink Art, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China

      2008
      2001
      1998
      • Group Exhibition, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
      1987
      • Four-artist group exhibition, with Wu Guangzhong (1919-2010), Wang Jiqian (1907-2003) and Song Wenzhi (1919-1999), Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong
      1986  
      • Group Exhibition of 40 Chinese Painters from Hong Kong, Macau, Overseas and Mainland China, organised by Chinese University of Hong Kong and Mingpao, City Hall, Hong Kong
      1985
      • Four-artist group exhibition, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong
      1984 
      • Group Exhibition, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
      1983, 1984 
      • Exhibition of Hong Kong Arts Festival, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong
      1981
      • Art’81 Exhibition, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
      1978  
      • Group Exhibition, City Hall, Hong Kong
      • Art’78 Exhibition, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
      • Hong Kong Artists: The Early Generation, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
      1974    
      • Group Exhibition, Zachary Waller Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
      1967  
      • Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London, UK
      • Contemporary Chinese Painting Exhibition, Scottish National Museum of Modern Art, Edinburg, UK
      1957-1958
      • Group Exhibition, Munich University, Munich, Germany
      1953-1954 
      • Joint exhibition with Zhao Shao-ang, Leeds University, Leeds; Marlborough Fine Arts Gallery, London, UK
      • Joint exhibition, Vallotton Gallery, Lausanne, Switzerland; Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France
      1952 
      • Joint exhibition with Yang Shanshen (1913-2004), Hu Yuki (1927- 2025) and Lu Canming (1892-1963), sponsored by Singapore Art Society, Singapore; Penang, Malaysia
      1950
      • Joint exhibition with Zhao Shao-ang, presented by Asahi Shimbun, Mitsukoshi Department Store, Tokyo, Japan, which was the first Chinese art exhibition since the war
      1933
      • Group Exhibition of White Wave Painting Society, Wuxi, China


      SELECTED AWARDS
      1988 
      Won the Grand Prize, Zhongshan Cup, Beijing International Ink and Wash Exhibition, Beijing, China
      1994  Awarded Honorary Degree in Literature, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
      1997
        Awarded Honorary Professor, Shanghai Jiaotung University, Shanghai, China
      1998  Awarded Honorary Doctorate Degree, Soka University, Tokyo, Japan
      2003  Awarded Bronze Bauhinia Star, HKSAR Government, Hong Kong

      SELECTED COLLECTIONS
      Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, USA
      University of Oregon Mseum of Art, Eugene, USA
      British Museum, London, UK
      Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK
      Scottish National Museum of Art, Edinburgh, UK
      University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
      University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
      Durham University Museum, Durham, UK
      Liverpool University, Liverpool, UK
      Cologne Museum of Art, Cologne, Germany
      Jiangsu Art Museum, Nanjing, China
      Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China
      Wuxi Museum, Wuxi, China
      Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
      Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
      Shuisongshi Shanfang Collection, Hong Kong

       
      SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
      1951   Recent Paintings by Fang Zhaoling, Tokyo, Japan
      1972   A World Beyond all Books-The Paintings and Calligraphy of Fang Zhaoling, London, UK
      1981   Fang Zhaoling: Paintings and Calligraphy, Shanghai, China
      1982   Works published in Some Recent Developments in 20th Century Chinese Paintings: A Personal View, edited by Hugh Moss, London, UK
      1983   Fang Zhaoling Portfolio, Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong
      1984   Works published in The Experience of Art, 20th Century Chinese Paintings from the Shuisongshi Shanfang Collection 
      1988   Chinese Painting by Fang Zhaoling, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
      1992   Works by Fang Zhaoling, Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong
      1994   The Passionate Realm: A Retrospective of Fang Zhaoling, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
      1997   Works by Fang Zhaoling Vol. 1 & 2, Shuan Zhou Tong, Hong Kong
      1999   Tranquil Minds and Nature’s Resonance, by Fang Zhaoling and Daisaku Ikeda, Cosmos Books, Hong Kong
      2000   An Ode to Earth and Life: The World of Fang Zhaoling, Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
      2005   Fang Zhaoling: A Life in Painting, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Chong-Moon Lee Centre for Asian Art and Culture, USA
      2007   Calligraphy by Fang Zhaoling, Cosmo Books, Hong Kong
      2008   Hong Kong Art: Open Dialogue Exhibition Series II– New Ink Art: Innovation and Beyond, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
      2012    Fang Zhaoling, Vigorous and Fresh Chinese Ink Painting, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong

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