Xue Yang 薛扬

Artist Biography：

Xue Yang is a contemporary artist, born in Jiangsu in 1976. She graduated from the Nanjing University of the Arts with a Master’s degree in Oil Painting and holds the title of National First-Class Artist. She currently works at the Guan Shanyue Art Museum in Shenzhen, where she lives and practices.Xue Yang’s work is distinguished by its unique perspective, nuanced execution, and inner sensitivity. Her paintings radiate a refined simplicity and poetic resonance. She weaves Kafkaesque layering into her poetic imagery—from figures in rain hats and scarves to boundless dreamscapes, from the interplay of living forms to the mutual elevation of subject and nature.In her practice, Xue Yang places particular emphasis on painterliness itself, moving beyond traditional oil painting’s reliance on natural light and perspective to embrace image narration through distinctive personal symbols. Her figures, often depicted with triangular heads and draped in long robes, convey emotion through colour, gesture, and flowing line. A recurring figure in her work—a child in a cloak—has become her signature motif.Critics note that Xue Yang, through her own micro-experiences and micro-expressions, voices a sincere and heartfelt call amid an era of cultural multiplicity, using “forms of life” to probe the very essence of life.Her works are held in collections including the China Women and Children’s Museum, Shenzhen Fine Art Institute, Shenzhen Art Museum, Guan Shanyue Art Museum, and Shenzhen Cultural Expo Co., Ltd., as well as important private collections.Xue Yang serves as a council member of the Shenzhen Artists Association, a member of the Oil Painting Committee of the Shenzhen Artists Association, Vice President of the Shenzhen Young Artists Association, and Vice President of the Shenzhen Branch of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, China Democratic League.

Exhibition Record

Solo Exhibitions

2025 “The Key of Pastoral Light”, ISM Art Space, Shenzhen

2023 “Loneliness · Theater” – Parallel Exhibition of the 7th Guangzhou Triennial, Guan Space, 2021 “The Second Flame”, Shekou Gallery, Shenzhen

2021 “The Second Flame”, Shekou Gallery, Shenzhen

2020 “Seeking · Encounter – Xue Yang Solo Exhibition”, Shenzhen Art Museum, Shenzhen

2019 “The Silence of All Things”, Shekou Gallery, Shenzhen

2019 “Dancing Lightly”, Bridge Gallery, Shenzhen

2019 “Secret Growth”, 798 Bridge Gallery, Beijing

2017 “Searching for Light”, Qianxixia Gallery, Wuhan

2016 “Green Light”, Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Shenzhen

Selected Group Exhibitions

2021 “New Power – Jupiter Art Center Launch Exhibition”, Jupiter Art Museum

2019 “Huaiyang Nostalgia” – Jianghuai-born Post-70s Artists Invitational Exhibition, Nantong Museum of Contemporary Art

2019 “Brave New World”, No.8 Art Space, Nanjing, China

2018 “Contemporary Female Artists Invitational Exhibition”, Shenzhen University Art Museum, Shenzhen

2018 The 4th Shenzhen (Yantian) Youth Art Week, Yantian Culture and Art Center, Shenzhen

2018 “Beginning of Summer” – Shenzhen Oil Painting Masters Exhibition, Shenzhen

2018 Shenzhen Oil Painting Annual Exhibition, Shenzhen Art Museum, Shenzhen

2017 The 2nd Shenzhen Contemporary Art Biennale, OCT Contemporary Art Center, Shenzhen

2017 “Pretending” – Female Artists Exhibition, Qianxixia Gallery, Wuhan

2017 “Huaiyang Nostalgia” – 2017 Invitational Exhibition for Jianghuai-born Post-70s Artists, Huaiyin Art Museum, Huai’an

2016 “Spring Blossoms” – The 2nd Female Artists Invitational Exhibition, Wuxi Jiangnan Oil Painting and Sculpture Institute

2016 “Realm of Secrecy” – 2016 Chinese Contemporary Art Invitational Exhibition, Shenzhen Art Museum

2016 The 6th Guangdong Contemporary Oil Painting Exhibition, Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Shenzhen

2016 Shenzhen · Chinese Freehand Oil Painting Tour Exhibition, Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Shenzhen

2016 “Without Boundaries” – Contemporary Art Exchange Exhibition, OCT Space, Shenzhen

2016 “Paper · On” – 2016 Contemporary Art Invitational Exhibition, Luohu Art Museum, Shenzhen

2016 Aohu Art Festival Season 2 – “Contemporary Life” Exhibition, Aohu Art Museum, Shenzhen

2016 “Rediscovery” – The 12th Shenzhen Artists Painting Shenzhen Exhibition, Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Shenzhen

2015 The 1st Shenzhen Contemporary Art Biennale, Value Factory, Shenzhen

2015 “Pins and Images” – Guangdong Small-scale Oil Painting Invitational Exhibition, Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Shenzhen

2015 “City · Temperature” – 2015 Contemporary Art Invitational Exhibition, Shenzhen Art Museum, Shenzhen

2015 “The Ordinary & The Abnormal” – Symbol Emergence and System Generation, First Exhibition, Luohu Art Museum, Shenzhen

2015 “Paper · On” – 2015 Contemporary Art Invitational Exhibition, Luohu Art Museum, Shenzhen

2014 “Displacement” – Within and Beyond Boundaries 2014 Contemporary Art Invitational Exhibition, Yixiang Art Museum, Shenzhen

2014 “On the Road · 2013” – Nomination Exhibition for Young Chinese Artists, Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Shenzhen

2013 “Gathering on the Hot Land” – 2013 Shenzhen Young Artists Invitational Exhibition, Shenzhen Art Museum, Shenzhen

2013 “Ink & Fate” – The 10th China-Korea Ink Painting Exchange Exhibition, Yijae Art Museum, Korea

2012 “Micro-Experience” – 2012 Young Artists Invitational Exhibition, Shenzhen Art Museum / Shanghai Zhangjiang Contemporary Art Museum

2011 “A Perfect Match” – Southern Female Artists Invitational Exhibition, Chengdu Blue Roof Art Museum, Chengdu

2007 “Shenzhen · Guangyang” China-Korea Friendship City Art Exchange Exhibition, Guangyang, Korea

Art Fairs

2015 “Micro-Experience – Young Artists Invitational Exhibition”, Shenzhen Art Fair,Shenzhen

Her works are held in the collections of the China Women and Children’s Museum, Shenzhen Fine Art Institute, Shenzhen Art Museum, Shenzhen Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Shenzhen Cultural Expo Co., Ltd., as well as Fine Arts News, Art & Wealth magazine, and numerous important private collectors.