They are young. They grew up in an era of modern China that has undergone the most transformative change due to rapid economic expansion, while receiving education in the west. And now, their art careers are about to take off.
Unlike the preceding generation of Chinese avant-garde artists, who were brought up during the upheaval of the Cultural Revolution and remained largely unknown to the outside world until much later in their careers, younger Chinese artists are now getting the spotlight straight out of art school. An increasing number of them are getting attention from western galleries and gaining global exposure, appearing in group shows, art fair booths, and even solo presentations in Europe and the U.S.
Yuan Fang (b. 1996)
Yuan Fang, Expanse (Blossoming) (2022). Courtesy the artist and Bill Brady Gallery.
Gallery: Bill Brady Gallery, ATM Gallery, Latitude Gallery
Who: The Shenzhen-born artist lives and works in New York City, where she first attended the School of Visual Arts for a BFA in visual and critical studies, followed by an MFA from the same institution. She has appeared in group shows in New York and Beijing, as well as solo shows at Latitude Gallery in 2020, and this year at ATM Gallery in New York. Most recently, she had her West Coast debut in a solo show titled “Expanse” at Bill Brady Gallery in Los Angeles. Her work is in the collection of some private museums in China, including He Art Museum in Foshan, X Museum in Beijing, and Xiao Museum of Contemporary Art in Shandong.
What she makes: Abstract paintings characterized by colorful brushstrokes that are distilled from her evolving, transient life experience, from growing up in Shenzhen, one of China’s fastest growing modern cosmopolitans, to establishing an artistic career in New York. The swirling motion depicted on canvas explores the vulnerability of life and bodies immersed in constantly changing surroundings.
Why she appeals: “I’m curious. First meeting Yuan, I knew immediately she shared my curiosity for painting. This curiosity and her dedication to painting made her an easy choice. The paintings also spoke to me. I’m not surprised by the interest in Yuan and her paintings. She’s a painter who puts in the time and knows what she wants, while having a serendipitous approach. My kind of artist,” said Bill Brady.
Price range: $12,000 to $20,000.
Up Next: A solo exhibition with Bill Brady Miami in March 2023.
