Biography: Li Xiao Bai
Born in Nanjing, China, in 1957, Li Xiao Bai now lives and works in Plymouth, Devon. He first studied at BA Fine Art at Nanjing College of Art and worked as an Art Lecturer at Nanjing Aeronautical University for 8 years, before moving in 1993 to England to continue his career as a professional artist. He has immensely exposed himself to cultures of the East as well as the West, especially the years during the Cultural Revolution in China and the latter years in England where he now lives and works. His early work drew heavily on the subjects of people, observing the life of people in their familiar place and setting. While his aesthetics are deeply rooted in his homeland of Chinese, Li Xiao Bai is a truly cosmopolitan artist who speaks to a global audience. He has held many solo and joint art exhibitions here in the United Kingdom, ranging from London to Bristol and throughout the southwest. In his upcoming exhibition Past Present Future Li Xiao Bai moves away from his early focus and makes reference to the change in modern day of China with the substitution of transport or to the beauty of nature. His upcoming exhibition Past Present Future will be held at Hai Gallery on 11 October 2013, with a exciting catalogue to accompany the event.
Education
| 2001 | Postgraduate Certificate Education in Secondary Art, St. Mark and St. John, Plymouth |
| 2001 | GCSE Certificate in English at Plymouth College of Further Education |
| 1985 | University Teaching Certificate, Nanjing Aeronautical University, Nanjing, China |
| 1981-1985 | BA Fine Art, Nanjing College of Art |
| 1980-1981 | Diploma in Art, Nanjing Institute of Education, China |
Employment
| 2004 | Artist in Residence, Tor Bridge High and Devonport High School for Girls |
| 2006- Present | Teaching Life Drawing at Peninsula Medical School, Plymouth and Exeter |
| 1993- Present | Self- Employed Artist – England |
| 1985-1993 | Art Lecturer – Nanjing Aeronautical University, Nanjing, China |
| 1976-1980 | Artist in the Army, People’s Liberation Army, Hangzhou, China |
Individual Shows
| 2003 | ‘East Meets West’ (Watercolour), Big Wide Bay Gallery, Tavistock, Devon |
| 1993 | ‘Another World’ Exhibition (Oil Painting), Alan Baxter Gallery, London |
| 1998 | Local Landscape (Oil Painting), Barbican Art Gallery, Plymouth |
| 1995 | Local Landscape (Chinese Ink Painting), Atlantic Art Gallery, Plymouth |
| 1995 | Oil Painting Exhibition, Exeter Museum |
| 1995 | Chinese Ink Painting Exhibition, Stoke Village Gallery, Plymouth |
| 1994 | ‘Another Time – Another Place’ (Oil Painting and Chinese Ink Painting), Hanover Gallery, Liverpool |
| 1994 | Chinese Ink Painting Exhibition, Plymouth Art Centre |
| 1994 | Oil Painting Exhibition, Plymouth Art Centre |
| 1990 | Two Person Show, White Lane Gallery, Plymouth |
| 1988 / 1989 | Two-Person Show, Flensberg Gallery, Germany |
Selected Group Shows
| 2006-2012 | ‘Affordable Art Fair’, Caroline Blunden – Oriental Art, Battersea Park, London |
| 2008 | Pre Beijing Olympic – Five Artist Exhibition, Faringdon, London |
| 2006 | ‘Close Distance’ – Four Artist Exhibition, Plymouth Art Centre |
| 2004 | ‘Flameworks’ Exhibition, Art Centre, Plymouth |
| 1999 | Four Artist Exhibition, Barbican Gallery, Plymouth |
| 1999 | Forbidden City Exhibition (Oil Painting), Alan Baxter Gallery, London |
| 1999 | Still- Life (Oil Painting), ‘Chelsea Gardener’, London |
| 1998 | Mixed Artist Exhibition, Barbican Gallery, Plymouth |
| 1997 / 1998 | Chinese Oil Portrait Exhibitions, Conway Hall, London |
| 1995 | ‘95 Beijing Artists Show’, Heng Art land Gallery, Singapore |
| 1995 | Oil Painting Exhibition- Clifton Gallery, Bristol |
| 1994 | ‘Accent on Beauty’, Roy Miles Gallery, Cork Street, London |
| 1991 | Shenjian Art Association Exhibition, Beijing Gallery, China |
| 1987 | 1st Jiangsu Youth Artist Exhibition, Jiangsu Gallery, Nanjing, China |
| 1985 | Jiangsu Youth Contemporary Art Exhibition, Jiangsu Gallery, Nanjing, China |
| 1983 | 4th Artist Exhibition~ Jiangsu Art Gallery, China |
Press Coverage
| 2010 | Londoner’s Diary, ‘Chinese pay tribute to Boris on his bike’ |
| 2010 | Evening Herald, Chinese Art in schools |
| 2008 | ITV- ‘Spotlight’, Chinese Artist Talking about Beijing Olympics |
| 2006 | ITV- ‘Spotlight’, ‘Close Distance’ Art Exhibition |
| 2006 | Evening Herald |
| 2005 | Evening Herald |
| 2004 | ITV- ‘Spotlight’, Xiao Bai Li- Artist; TV Coverage of an Artist’s Life |
| 1999 | Exhibition at Barbican Gallery, Evening Herald Newspaper, Plymouth |
| 1995 | Solo Exhibition of Mixed Media, Liverpool Echo, Radio Merseyside |
| 1994 | Artist – Xiao Bai Li, Evening Herald, Plymouth |
| 1993 | Xiao Bai Li’s Chinese Ink Painting, Evening Herald, Plymouth |
| 1989 | Portraits (Oil Painting), Shenjian Art Gallery |
| 1988 | Two-Person Show, Flensberg, Germany |
| 1987 | ‘On the Way Home ’Jiangsu Daily, China |
| 1985 | ‘Vanishing Sun’ Jiangsu Magazine of Art, China |
Publications
| Que Zheng, Xiao Bai Li et al. (1992) Arts Guide for University Students, He Hai University Press, China |
| Xiao Bai Li, (1989) Chinese and Western Arts, Nanjing Aeronautical University Press, China |
