Kong Qian

Kong Qian was born in Tianjin in 1956, with family roots in Shandong. In 1982, Kong Qian graduated from the Mural Department of the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, and afterwards worked in Tianjin University’s Architecture Department. In 1986, he was transferred back to the Oil Painting Department of his alma mater as a professor and master’s supervisor. In 1998, Kong Qian went to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium as a visiting scholar as part of a Chinese European art exchange program. Kong Qian has established a reputation for his distinctive stylistic language. His teaching career spanning nearly forty years at Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, as well as the historical vision and awareness of issues that he has consciously developed and continues to cultivate, have undoubtedly established his creative structure and scope of perception, both in terms of depth and breadth. Kong’s exceptionally exuberant creative force, highly distinctive and specific stylistic preferences, and narrative approaches have fostered him into a gifted and extraordinary painting maverick, moreover, a unique and treasured paradigm of contemporary Chinese art.

1956 Born in Tianjin, a native of Shandong Province

1982 Graduated with BA from Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts

1982-1985 Worked in Tianjin University Architecture Branch School

1998 Attended the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Antwerp in Belgium for a scholar exchange program

1986 to now Serves as postgraduate professor of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts Oil Painting Department

Solo Exhibitions

2025 Caged, Uncaged, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Shanghai, China

2024 Outrageous Comedy of Humanity, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China

2019 A Vision of the Times: Kong Qian’s Road of Sketch (1973-2019), Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China

2017 Jinmen in Evolution-Kong Qian Solo Exhibition, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China

2016 Off Time: Thirty Years of Paintings by Kong Qian (1983-2016), Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China

2015 Sketch of Life: Kong Qian solo exhibition, Distance Gallery, Tianjin, China

2012 Twenty Eight Pieces of Oil Painting, The Museum of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, Tianjin, China

2002 Kong Qian’s Sketch Solo Exhibition, COFCO Plaza, Beijing, China

1999 Kong Qian’s Sketch Art, COFCO Plaza, Beijing, China

1998 Kong Qian’s Sketch Solo Exhibition, The Museum of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, Tianjin, China

Group Exhibitions

2024 Alien, David Castillo, Miami, USA

The Extraordinary of the Existence, Simple One, Beijing, China

2023 Gesture of Creating, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China

2022 Wizard, Craftsman and Time Traveler, YI ART INSTITUTE, Hefei, China

2020 Shape of Lover, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China

Being of Evils, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China

2019 Shapes of Expression-Exhibition of Works by Teachers from the Oil Painting Department of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China

2018 Déjà vu: Painting as the Art of Signification, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China

2016 A Ride to Combine: Hive’s Special Exhibition 2016, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China

HISTORICODE: Scarcity & Supply, The 3rd Nanjing International Art Festival, Nanjing, China

2015 Chinese Spirit, Chinese Academy of Oil Painting & Tianjin Art Museum, Tianjin, China

2014 Independent Regiment: Eight People Exhibition, Distance Gallery, Tianjin, China

2013 2012-2013 Paper Painting Span Years, Tianjin Exhibition Hall, Tianjin, China

2010 Cross Boundary: Art Exhibition, Cultural and Creative Industries, Tianjin, China

Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts and Keimyung University Group Exhibition, Tianjing, China

“Summer Davos” in Asia Art Exhibition, Tianjin, China

China Art Academies Group Exhibition, Shangshang Museum, Beijing, China

2009 The Same Goal, Different Forms: Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts Teachers Paintings Collection, The National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China

2008 China: Paper Painting Exchange Exhibition with Belgium, Antwerp, Belgium

Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts Exhibition of The National Art Museum of China, The National Art Museum of China, Tianjin, China

2007 China: Paper Printing Exchange Exhibition with Belgium, The Museum of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, Tianjin, China

2004 Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts and Burg Giebichenstein Hochschule für Kunst und Design Halle Group Exhibition, Germany

2003 International Modern Sketch Art Exhibition, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts Museum, Xi’an, China

1997 China Contemporary Sketch Art Exhibition, The National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China

1996 Three People Chinese Painting Group Exhibition, CAFA Art Museum, Beijing, China

1994 Ink Painting and Human Being, Beijing Concert Hall Gallery, Beijing, China

1993 Tianjin Modern Oil Painting Society First Exhibition, The Museum of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, Tianjin, China

1990 Tianjin Academy of Painting Eleven People Exhibition, Beijing Concert Hall Gallery, Beijing, China

1988 Second Tianjin Youth Art Festival, Tianjin Art Museum, Tianjin, China

1984 Changzhou, Haerbin, Tianjin Three Provinces and City Art Exhibition, Tianjin Art Museum, Tianjin, China

1983 Fig: The 1st Tianjin Youth Painting Exhibition, Tianjin Art Museum, Tianjin, China