FANG ZHAOLING
Born to a scholarly family in the city of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China in 1914, Fang Zhaoling was a precocious child with strong interests in Chinese calligraphy. She studied bird-and-flower painting under Chen Jiucun and landscape painting under Qian Songyan while at Wuxi Art College. When she was nineteen, she participated in the “White Wave Art Society” exhibition in Wuxi. Her talent and knowledge of Chinese ink art was evident even at a young age. By 1950, she had immigrated to Hong Kong and was a student of Zhao Shao’ang, a leading proponent of the second generation of the Lingnan School. Under his guidance, she produced primarily bird-and-flower paintings. By 1953, she had become a student of the renowned painter Zhang Daqian, canonical artist of twentieth century Chinese ink painting. During the 1960s, she studied paintings by Wu Changshuo and Qi Baishi in great detail, learning to use their free style method of cursive calligraphy to create paintings. During the 1960s-70s she joined Zhang in Brazil and California, painting with him and participating in several overseas exhibitions. She passed away in 2006.
Alisan Fine Arts has been representing Fang since the 1990s and has included her work in numerous group exhibitions, and in 2012 held a solo exhibition for her. In 2014 to celebrate her centennial, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University held a solo exhibition of her works.
Since 1951, Fang has had over fifty group and solo exhibitions, including important shows at the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, Oxford University; Cambridge University; Asian Art Museum of San Francisco; Museum of the University of Oregon; Tokyo Fuji Art Museum; National Art Museum of China, Beijing; Shanghai Art Museum; Zhejiang West Lake Art Museum; University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Her work is present in numerous important collections, including the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco; the British Museum; Shanghai Art Museum; Hong Kong Museum of Art; University Museum and Art Gallery, the University of Hong Kong. Her works have also been featured in many publications and monographs.
Courtesy Alisan Fine Arts
Works at Alisan Fine Arts
Explore and Follow Artists Shaping Contemporary Art
A respected voice in contemporary art discourse.
Focusing on ambitious storytelling and insightful art-world commentary. Ocula Magazine publishes in-depth interviews, critical essays and timely analysis on the artists, exhibitions and ideas driving the global art world.
Learn more about Ocula Magazine
Showcasing the best of the art world.
Ocula partners with galleries from around the world to highlight their artists, artworks and exhibitions. Gallery membership is by application and invitation, with each member vetted by an independent panel.
Learn more about Ocula Membership
Specialises in the sale of major artworks.
Led by a team with deep ties to the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and collectors. Ocula’s advisory team offers bespoke services to high-net-worth clients from around the world who are looking to acquire the best of contemporary and modern art.
Learn more about our team and services