Liu Shiming
Liu Shiming is a revered Chinese artist whose works have had a distinct impact on the course of modern Chinese sculpture. Born in Tianjin in 1926, Shiming attended the prestigious Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing where he was part of the first generation of sculptors trained by the People’s Republic of China to study both traditional Chinese art and French modernist principles. Receiving early recognition for his work, Shiming's student project, Measuring Land (1950), was one of the first works exhibited abroad following the establishment of the People's Republic of China.
Liu Shiming led a quietly remarkable life. After graduating from CAFA with honors, Liu worked on monumental and heroic sculptures, gaining increasing recognition for his creativity and vision. Yet, just ten years after graduation, he made a radical change. Leaving fame and privilege behind, he moved to the countryside of Henan and Hebei provinces where he lived simply in small towns and villages. Here he observed and engaged with local people, following their customs and learning their folklore. It was during this period that he developed and honed his signature humanist style, honoring his cultural heritage while at the same time adapting more modern influences.
After returning to Beijing in 1975, he worked at the National Museum of Chinese History where he mastered clay and bronze reproduction and restoration techniques, deepening his knowledge and enhancing his love and respect for traditional Chinese art. Handling these ancient sculptures and relics significantly influenced his philosophy on art, supporting his belief in the importance of retaining the cultural heritage while also being alive to the contemporary world. In 1980 he returned to work at CAFA, where he managed a small electric kiln, providing him with enormous freedom to create his unique clay works. But it wasn’t until 1994 when he became an inaugural member of The Chinese Sculpture Institute that he began to exhibit his sculpture, with solo exhibitions at such major museums as the National Art Museum in Beijing and the Henan Art Museum.
Liu Shiming continued to create and exhibit his sculpture in China until his death in 2010. Less than decade later, Shiming’s sculpture began to be shown outside of China, appearing in public spaces and special exhibitions, notably at the Oculus in New York City and the Asian Cultural Center in Washington DC. More recently, he has shown in university galleries and museums throughout the US and Canada, with exhibitions planned for Europe in the next year. His works are in the permanent collections of the American University in Cairo, Egypt; Czech National Museum in Prague; Georgia State University, Atlanta; Henan Art Museum, Zhengzhou, China; Macaulay Honors College in New York City: and the National Art Museum of China and the National Museum of Chinese History in Beijing. In 2025 a large-scale sculpture is scheduled for installation on Roosevelt Island in New York City.
The Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing established the Liu Shiming Sculpture Museum in 2018, honoring his legacy and the historical significance of his works. In the Spring of 2024 The Liu Shiming Art Gallery opened in midtown Manhattan, dedicated to presenting the artist’s work through both thematic and chronological exhibitions, and creating dialogue with other artists who work in the same or similar traditions.
