China-born British Chinese, Liying Zhao (b.1978) is a contemporary artist based in London. She graduated from China Academy of Art with BA in 2002 and MA in 2009. She previously lived in mainland China, Hong Kong and Paris. She specialises in creating artwork on linen, paper, and board using a variety of mediums including oil, acrylic, charcoal, pastel, watercolour, Chinese ink, and printmaking. In her artworks, she integrates her life experiences, insights, and philosophical reflections. She uses butterflies,  trees, stones, frames and other elements to symbolise freedom, wisdom,  strong will, boundaries etc., and to express her deepest concern about environmental protection, respect and emotions and mental health. She transforms facts into fiction, into fantasy, and then back to reality. In all, her art aims to evoke a spectrum of emotions and thoughts, transcending conventional interpretations to inspire introspection and foster fresh perspectives beyond the realm of artistic expression. 

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China-born British Chinese, Liying Zhao (b.1978) is a contemporary artist based in London with over 25 years of experience in artistic creation.
She graduated from China Academy of Art with BA in 2002 and MA in 2009 and was educated in Summer Institute jointly organised by Berlin University of Arts  and China Academy of Art in 2001 and in Willem de Kooning Academy in 2007.
She was a full-time and part-time art lecturer in a fine art academy and university and was a  columnist of the Hong Kong Visual Art Magazine.
​She lived in the Mainland of China ( 1978 - 2010 ), Hong Kong ( 2010 - 2016 ) and Paris (2016 -2019) before settling in London from 2019.
Before she moved to London in 2019, she had participated in many national and international exhibitions in museums in different countries and areas, and had a solo show in Hong Kong. Now she actively participates in exhibitions organised by local artists groups and in art fairs in London.
Her artworks are collected by private collectors, art institutions and the China Academy of Art.

CV

​​2019-2025  As a columnist of the Hong Kong Visual Arts Magazine
2016 - 2019  As a contemporary artist based in Paris
2002 - 2014  As an art lecturer in Visual Arts Institute of the China Academy of Art, Hangzhou Jian Ming School of Fine Arts, Branch of Jiangsu Institute of Education, Macao Polytechnic Institute, etc.

2006-2009 　 Master of Arts,  Printmaking Department, China Academy of Art
1998-2002 　Bachelor of Arts, Printmaking Department, China Academy of Art
2007  Spring　Willem de Kooning Academy, Hogeschool Rotterdam, Netherland
2001  Summer Institute, Berlin University of Arts and the China Academy of Art

2026
            Gardens of Life: Silent Seeds (January, Polish Social & Culture Association Gallery, London, UK)
2025
              The Other Art Fair (Oct & March, London, UK)
              The Friends 2025 Exhibition of Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA gallery, Birmingham, UK)
2024
           The First Exhibition of  HongKong Excellent Contemporary Paintings (City Hall, Hong Kong )
2023
           Poster of  the oil painting, Out of the Comfort Zone  ( Hyde Park Corner station, London, UK )
2015
          AP33 Mainland and Macao  artists' sketch and printmaker Exhibition ( Macao Museum, China )
          AP25 China mainland and Macao Printmaker Exhibition ( Macao Museum, China )
2014
          Printmaking exhibition 2014 ( Hong Kong, China )
          Trace · International Invitation Printmaking Exhibition ( Jiangsu, China )
          Solo Exhibition - “Artistic Heart” ( Hong Kong, China )
2013
          Printmaking group exhibition 2013 ( Hong Kong, China )
2012
​          Artist Talk ( Cultural Plaza, TVB,  Hong Kong )
          Printmaking exhibition 2012 ( Hong Kong, China )
         Trace · International Invitation Printmaking Exhibition ( Gansu Museum, Lanzhou, China)
2011
          Trace · Guest Exhibition Of China Famous Printmaker ( LingNan Museum of Fine Art, China )
2009
          Zhejiang Province, twelfth session of the Fine Arts Exhibition ( Zhejiang Art Museum, Hangzhou, China )
          Group Exhibition ( Museum of Contemporary Art of CAAM,  Hangzhou, China)
          Who am I? - China and Netherlands Printmaking Exchange Exhibition ( Rotterdam, Netherland )
          Art Book Exhibition ( Colombia )
​2007
          Contemporary Female Artist Invitation Exhibition ( Hangzhou, China )
          Exhibition in Willem De Kooning Academy ( Rotterdam, Netherland )
           China-Dutch Printmaking Exchange Exhibition （ Blaak 10, Rotterdam, Netherlands）
2003
          The 8th Printmaking Exhibition of Etching Lithography Silkscreen ( Chong Qing Art Museum, Sichuan, China )​
2002
          The 6th National University Printmaking Exhibition ( Art Museum of Nanjing University of Art, China ) 

AWARDS
           E.Land Scholarship ( 2009 )
           The 8th Printmaking Exhibition of Etching lithography Silkscreen - Excellence award ( 2003 )
           Collection Prize of the Graduation Creative Works ( 2002 )
           Charles B. Wang Graduation Works Scholarship ( 2002 )
           Wu Fu Zhi Plastic Arts Award ( 2000 )
           Scholarship of China Academy of Art ( 2000 )