Wang Mengsha

born 1982 Wuxi Jiangsu China

lives in Wuxi & Beijing China

Wang Mengsha was born to an artistic family in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. She studied animation at the Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts. She later completed advanced studies at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, and the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, before returning to China as a full-time artist. She currently lives and works in Beijing and Wuxi.

Her art style combines her training in animation with a deep interest in traditional Chinese painting and culture. Her unique ‘Xieyi’ style of painting adopts a sense of humor to innovatively combine aspects of traditional paintings of court maidens and beauties with landscape paintings. Akin to the eminent artist Walasse Ting, with whom she shares a hometown, Wang is associated with bright colours and calligraphic strokes. However, as a female artist, she applies a feminine perspective to examine the past and look at the future in ways that redefine contemporary ink art in history and modern culture.

Wang has been honoured with many awards, including in 2009 when the Beijing magazine Chinese Painting selected her as one of "China’s Young Artists Most Deserving of Immediate Media Attention". In 2011, Bazaar Art Magazine selected her artwork as one of "The 100 Most Favourite Artworks of the Year". In 2013, the Beijing magazine National Arts awarded her the "Golden Star Prize". She was awarded the "Academic and Artistic Achievement Award: 7th Art Market Value Ranking" by Beijing Business Today and Beijing Association of Auctioneers in 2024.

She has exhibited at the University of Edinburgh Library, UK; Galerie 99, Germany; China Cultural Centre, Tokyo, Japan; International Art Centre, Jeju, South Korea; Today Art Museum, Beijing; Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai; Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts, Nanjing, China. In recent years, major group exhibitions include: Beyond Tradition: The Metamorphosis of Chinese Art, Cromwell Place, London, 2023; Contemporary Chinese Painting Invitation Exhibition (Dunhuang), Dunhuang International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dunhuang, 2025; currently on view at The Unfinished Future: 10th Anniversary of the Annual Review of Chinese Contemporary Ink Painting, Guangdong Museum of Art (Baietan), Guangzhou, until Nov 22, 2026; and Wuhan Biennale, Wuhan Art Museum, China, Oct 1, 2026 - May 30, 2027.

Wang Mengsha has held three solo exhibitions with Alisan Fine Arts: two in Hong Kong in 2016 and 2024, and one in 2025 in New York, USA, marking Wang Mengsha's debut solo exhibition in New York. Both the New York show and the 2016 Hong Kong show were honoured as the Major Solo Exhibition of the Year by the Guangdong Museum of Art in 2026. Wang's works on view in our group shows include Beyond the Jade Terrace, Hong Kong, 2014; HOPE charity exhibition, Hong Kong, 2018; Themes and Variations, New York, 2024; Revisiting the Jade Terrace, Alisan Atelier, Hong Kong, 2026, as part of the gallery's 45th anniversary programme "Then and Now". Alisan also featured Wang's paintings at art fairs around the world, including Paris, London, Singapore, Taiwan, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. In 2023, the images of Wang’s colourful works were seen travelling from Sheung Wan to North Point on Hong Kong’s iconic tram to promote Ink Asia, a fair dedicated to promoting ink art. Two catalogues have been published for the artist.

Her work has been acquired by a trustee of The Women's Art Collection, a collection of modern and contemporary art by women artists, currently on view at Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge, UK.

BIOGRAPHY

1982 Born in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China, grew up in an artistic family
2004 Advanced studies at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
2006 Graduated from Design Department, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts, Xi’an, China, studied animation
2007 Advanced studies at the University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
2020 Proya cosmetics produced an umbrella printed with Wang Mengsha's painting
Yit online shop produced a round fan embroidered with Wang Mengsha's iconic butterfly and scholar rock
2022 Speaker, Online Talk Series What Should I Draw?, China
Collaborated with trending indigenous Chinese brand Guan Xia to develop a unique packaging for new fragrance Suzhou Sweet, China
Participated Bad Book Market in Guangzhou, China
Collaborated product titled Bobocat x Wang Mengsha with the online art trading platform Rodeo Art in mainland China
Interviewed by CGTN TV programme The Vibe, Beijing, China
2023 Workshop: Multiverse of Montage, Research Centre For Business and Arts, Peking University, Beijing, China
2026 Alisan Fine Arts' 2 solo exhibitions, Wang Mengsha: Borrowed Shadows, New York (2025) and Wang Mengsha: Gardens, Hong Kong (2016) were named the Major Solo Exhibition of the Year by Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China
Present Lives and works in Beijing and Wuxi, China

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2026

The Undivided Field, Ferris Gallery, Shenzhen, China

2025

Wang Mengsha: Borrowed Shadows, Alisan Fine Arts, New York, USA

2023-2024

Wang Mengsha: Whispering Blossoms, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong

2022

Multiverse of Montage, To Summer Leisure Courtyard, Shanghai, China
What Happened in My Universe, To Summer Leisure Courtyard, Shanghai, China
Wang Mengsha Solo Exhibition: Flower Terrace, Qiantan Taikoo Li Tsutaya Books, Shanghai, China

2021

Wang Mengsha Solo Exhibition: Her Blooming Land, Space Station, Beijing
Wang Mengsha: Ripples, Each Modern, Taipei, Taiwan

2018

Neo-Orientation: Wang Mengsha Solo Exhibition, Space Station, Beijing, China

2017

Suspension: Wang Mengsha Solo Exhibition, Triumph Gallery, Beijing, China

2016

Wang Mengsha: Gardens, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong

2014

Early Summer, Aura Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan

2013

Mind upon Paper, Mycenae Gallery, Moganshan Art Zone, Shanghai, China
Dreaming Butterfly, Aura Gallery, Beijing, China

2011

New Ink Painting by Wang Mengsha, Galerie 99, Aschaffenburg, Germany

2010

Fleeting Years, EPSON Gallery, Shanghai, Beijing, China

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2026-2027

Wuhan Biennale, Wuhan Art Museum, Wuhan, China (Oct 1, 2026 - May 30, 2027)

2026

The Unfinished Future: 10th Anniversary of the Annual Review of Chinese Contemporary Ink Painting, Guangdong Museum of Art (Baietan), Guangzhou, China (until Nov 22)
Revisiting the Jade Terrace, Alisan Atelier, Hong Kong (until Nov 28)
Old Tales Retold, Rongbaozhai, Guangzhou, China
ART SG, Alisan Fine Arts, Singapore

2025

West Bund Art & Design Fair, Alisan Fine Arts, Shanghai, China
Contemporary Chinese Painting Invitation Exhibition (Dunhuang), Dunhuang International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dunhuang, China
Art Basel Hong Kong, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
Art SG, Alisan Fine Arts, Singapore
New Shoots from Old Roots, Migrant Bird Space, Shanghai, China
More is a Strategy: The Maximalist Impulse, Migrant Bird Space, Shanghai, China
Mo-dern: Flowing Light of the New Ink, HiArt Space, Shenzhen, China

2024

Themes and Variations, Alisan Fine Arts, New York, USA
A Horse, Bounds, Across The Sky, A Dragon, Rare, In Human's Eyes: Chinese Contemporary Art Exhibition, Eurus Art Space, Qingdao, China
Affordable Art Fair New York Fall 2024, New York, USA

2023

2022

Asia Now - Paris Asian Art Fair, Alisan Fine Arts, Paris, France
Landscapes Through Time, Fine Art Asia, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
Art Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
The Rain Freshens, FQM, New York, USA

2021

2020

Art 021 Platform, online viewing room, Alisan Fine Arts, Shanghai, China
Autumn Group Exhibition, Banzhetang Art Space, Nanjing, China
The Revival of Tradition: Another Approach to Contemporary Chinese Art, Song Art Museum, Beijing, China
Goose Flying: Contemporary Women Artists, Proya Qingteng Art Centre, Hangzhou, China

2019

Until the Moss Grows: Women Artists in Ink Painting, Hive Centre for Contemporary Art, Shenzhen, China
1st Taipei Dangdai, Alisan Fine Arts, Taipei, Taiwan

2018

Art 021, Alisan Fine Arts, Shanghai, China
HOPE A charity exhibition celebrating the works of outstanding contemporary Chinese women artists, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
Incarnation, W Ming Art, New York, USA
Melting Point: International Exhibition Ding You to Wu Xu, L+Space, Shanghai, China
Invitational Exhibition of Famous Artists in Ink Paintings, Qing Bige, Beijing, China
Contemporary Ink Painting Exhibition of Seven Artists: Metaphor, Triumph Art Space, Beijing, China

2017

Annual Review of China Contemporary Ink Painting, Ucity Art Museum of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Guangzhou, China
Reproduce Soliloquize: Female Artist Invitation Exhibition, Qingdao, China
Regne Animal, Gallery 1618, Paris, France

2016

The Power of Attention: Ink Painting Works of Young Artists, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
Travel Notes, Space Station, Beijing, China
New Tales of Ink, Triumph Art Space, Beijing, China

2015

Artificial Fairyland: Chinese and South Korean Young Art Exhibition, Jinji Lake Art Museum, Suzhou, China
Post-tradition and Its Origins, UCCA Store, Beijing, China
Art Space vs Open Borders, Germany & China: International Contemporary Art Exhibition, Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts, Nanjing, China
Bifurcation, Soka Art, Beijing, China

2014

Beyond the Jade Terrace, Alisan Fine Arts-Aberdeen, Hong Kong
The Power of Attention, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
She: The Era, Times Art Museum, Beijing, China

2013

New Formation of Academy, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
New Ink New Youth, New Ink Image Gallery, Beijing, China
Dream to be Disappeared: Invitational Exhibition of New Ink Paintings by Young Artists, Shin Kong Place, Beijing, China
What We Think Can Be Told to the Others: Ink Painting Exhibition, Beyond Art Space, Beijing, China
Mind upon Paper: Painting & Calligraphy by Shi Xu, Fan Yang, Wang Mengsha, Zhongshan Art Museum, Guangzhou, China

2012

Theory by Zhuangzi: Nomination Exhibition of Contemporary Chinese Young Artists, China National Convention Centre, Beijing, China
Chinese Opera Characters Painting Exhibition, Zhu Qizhan Art Museum, Shanghai, China
Vision China: Edinburgh Chinese Ink Painting Exhibition, University of Edinburgh Library, Edinburgh, UK
Crisscrossed Ink Painting: Shanghai New Ink Art Exhibition 2012, Duolun Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai, China

2011

1st Station of Vision China, Asia Travelling Exhibition: Chinese New Ink Paintings, Tokyo Chinese Cultural Centre, Tokyo, Japan
New Formation of Academy: New Works by Contemporary Chinese Famous Painters, Keyuan Museum, Dongguan, China
Jeju International Contemporary Art Exhibition, Jeju International Art Centre, Jeju, South Korea
New Formation of Academy, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China
Meticulous Painting Exhibition by Chinese Young Artists, Bank of China Art Space, Beijing, China

2010

Brush and Ink, Noble Mind: Nomination Exhibition of Chinese Painters of the New Generation, Shanxi Art Museum, Xi’an, China
Exhibition of Laureates of International Chinese Young Artists, Times Art Museum, Beijing, China

2009

Group Exhibition of China’s 10 Young Artists Most Deserving of Immediate Media Attention, Chinese Painting Magazine Art Space, Beijing, China

SELECTED AWARDS
2009 Selected as one of China’s 10 Young Artists Most Deserving of Immediate Media Attention, Chinese Painting Magazine, Beijing, China

Awarded The Most Outstanding Young Artists in China, Beijing, China
Selected to participate in the International Young Artists Festival, China

2011 Selected as one of The 100 Most Favourite Artworks of the Year, Bazaar Art, China

2013 Golden Star Prize, National Arts Magazine, Beijing, China

2018 Nominated China Young Artist Award, Beijing, China

2021 Top 10 Artistic Value Award, Beijing, China

2024 Academic and Artistic Achievement Award, 7th Art Market Value Ranking, Beijing Business Today and Beijing Association of Auctioneers, Beijing, China

2026 Named Major Solo Exhibition of the Year, Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China

SELECTED COLLECTIONS

Trustee of "The Women's Art Collection", Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge, UK

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2011 Illusion: Wang Mengsha, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
2014 Beyond the Jade Terrace, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
2016 Wang Mengsha: Gardens, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
2022 Events in My Universe, Send Points Publishing, Guangzhou, China
2025 Wang Mengsha, Send Points Publishing, Guangzhou, China