XIAO SE / 萧瑟 (1970-2023) grew up in Beijing in the second half of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). He experienced the tumultuous socio-political and cultural climate during the 1978 liberalist economic reform and the late ’80s student movements. He is best known for his surrealist paintings, which skillfully fuse religious motifs in the early Renaissance masterpieces into realistic portrayals of individuals’ living conditions in postsocialist China. From 1986 to 1991, Xiao studied in Beijing’s School of Fine Arts, the PRC. In 1995, he graduated from the Environment Art Design Center at the Central Academy of Fine Arts and Design. In 2000, Xiao Se was nominated as one of the Emerging Talents in Chinese Oil Paintings in the official art magazine Art Research.
- Upcoming2025
Postpartum solo exhibition - Past
*Note: In 1999, the CAFD was integrated into Tsinghua University and was renamed as the Academy of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University.
“Gazing Affectionately —Xiao Se Solo Exhibition,” LPS China Platform / Lu Museum, Beijing
2018
“Xiao Se: Solo Exhibition—2018 Bavaria Chinese New Year,” Alte Kongresshalle, Munich
2011
“Xiao Se’s Solo Exhibition, Beijing,” Eli Klein Projects, Beijing
2009
“Instinctive Reality,” Eli Klein Fine Art, New York
2007
“Art Gender,” The Fifth Element Gallery, Beijing
2004-2005
“Privacy of the Fish,” the first exhibition at 798 Art Zone in Beijing and the second exhibition in Hong Kong
2003
“Years Gone By,” Wan Fung Gallery, Beijing
2001
“Memory of an Abortive Turn,” Wan Fung Gallery, Beijing
1999-2001
Three solo exhibitions titled “Xiao Se’s Oil Paintings,” Qin Gallery, Beijing
1999
“Xiao Se’s Oil Paintings” in Bonn and Berlin
1998
“Xiao Se’s Art Works,” Qin Gallery, Beijing
1997
“Xiao Se’s Oil Paintings,” Qin Gallery, Beijing
2018 ARTMUC, 2018
2017 The 3rd Ningbo International Art Fair, Ningbo Museum of Art, Ningbo (the PRC)
2016 “Art Spirit in the Material Time,” Fuzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Fuzhou
2016 “About the Air,” Ningbo Museum of Art, Ningbo (the PRC)
2015 “Return,” Riverside Art Museum, Beijing
2014 The 8th Art Expo Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
2014 The 1st Xinjiang International Arts Biennale, Urumqi (the PRC)
2014 “Xinjiang Impression,” National Art Museum of China, Beijing
2012 Art Beijing, Beijing
2010 “Rehearsal,” The 8th Shanghai Biennial, Shanghai
2009 Art Chicago, Eli Klein Fine Art, Chicago
2009 “Redefining Surrealism,” Eli Klein Fine Art, New York
2009 LA Art Show, Eli Klein Fine Art, Los Angeles
2009 “China Garden,” The Fifth Element Gallery, Beijing
2008 Asian Contemporary Art Fair, Eli Klein Fine Art, New York
2008 SCOPE Art Fair, Eli Klein Fine Art, Miami
2007 The 10th Beijing Art Expo, Beijing
2007 The 4th China International Gallery Exposition, Beijing
2007 “Clean the Corner,” The Fifth Element Gallery, Beijing
2007 “Fine Arts Literature Art Center Collection Exhibition,” Fine Arts Literature Art Center, Wuhan (the PRC)
2006 “Contemporary Art Exhibition,” 798 Art Zone, Beijing
2006 “Form and Language” Contemporary Art Exposition, Yan Club Arts Center, Beijing
2005 Young Artists’ Works Exhibition, Yan Club Arts Center, Beijing
2005 China’s Famous Artists’ Works Exhibition, Wan Fung Art Gallery, Beijing
2003 Art Taipei, Taipei
2002 Global Art Fair Singapore, Singapore
2002 “That’s Beijing,” Red Gate Gallery, Beijing
2002 Contemporary Oil Paintings Exhibition, Wan Fung Art Gallery, Hong Kong
2002 Korea International Art Fair, Seoul
2001 “Fly A Balloon on Christmas,” Wan Fung Gallery, Beijing
2000 “Self Expression,” Hualai Gallery, Beijing