biography of QI Baishi (1864-1957)
Professional data
Work and Life
Qi Baishi was a Chinese artist, born in 1864 in Xiangtan (Hunan Province). He died in 1957 in Beijing. Coming from a rural area and a modest home, he started to express his interest in painting, poetry and calligraphy late in life. He learned the traditional Chinese painting technique, Gonbi, by himself.
To perfect his skills, he travels all over China, shifting toward Xieyi technique. During his wanderings, he discovers others forms of inspiration than traditional academic themes and slowly imposes his own style.
In 1956, he received the International Peace Prize. Recognized during his lifetime as a Master, he remains to this day a great source of inspiration to his contemporaries.
Honorary degree
1957
Honorary President of the Chinese Painting Academy of Beijing, China
1956
World Peace Prize awarded by the World Peace Council
1955
Honorary Member of the Art Academy of East Germany
1953
Appointed “People’s Artist” by the Chinese Central Culture Ministry.
1949
President of the National Committee of the Chinese Federation of Writers and Artists and the National Committee of the Association of Chinese Artists.
Solo Exhibitions (Selected)
Solo exhibitions
2019
Qi Baishi: Master of Modern Chinese Painting
Kyoto National Museum ( KNM) – Kyoto, Japan
01/30/2019 – 03/17/2019
2018
Prosperity in Tranquility: The Art of Qi Baishi
The Forbidden City – Beijing, China
07/17/2018 – 10/08/2018
Living by Selling Texts Instead of Farming – Qi Baishi’s Calligraphic Implication II
Beijing Fine Art Academy – Beijing, China
04/15/2018 – 05/31/2018
2015
Qi Baishi: Modern Master of China
Jointly The Hunan Museum – China & The Bowers Museum – Orange County- United States
04/11/2015 – 07/12/2015
Paintings by Qi Baishi from the collection of the Beijing fine art academy
Hungarian national gallery – Budapest, Hungary
04/23/2015 – 06/28/2015
2014
Qi Baishi: Modern Master
Honolulu Museum of Art – Honolulu HI, United States
10/02/2014 – 01/25/2015
2010
Qi Baishi
The Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) – Beijing, China
10/16/2010 – 11/12/2010
2006
Qi Baishi and his Contemporaries
Kyoto National Museum ( KNM) – Kyoto, Japan
09/06/2006 – 10/01/2006
2005
“Master Qi Baishi’s Art”
The Capital Museum – Beijing, China
Group Exhibitions (Selected)
Group exhibitions
2019
Likeness and Unlikeness-Dialogues with Qi Baishi
NAMOC – The National Art Museum of China _ Beijing, China
04/19/2019 – 05/04/2019
2018
“Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition of the Xiangtan City Artists”
The Ziller artspace – Greece
03/26/2018
The breeze from Qi Baishi’s hometown
Museum Jorge Rando – Spain
03/20/2018 – 03/23/2018
2015
“Just Silence——The Grass and Insects World of Qi Baishi”
Art Museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy – Beijing, China
09/09/2015 – 10/07/2015
2013/14
Isamu Noguchi and Qi Baishi: Beijing 1930
The Noguchi museum – New York NY, United States
09/25/2013 – 01/26/2014
1998
The paintings,calligraphie and seals of Qi Baishi
Macau Museum of Art – Macau, China
07/17/1998 – 08/16/1998