Artists

LI Tao

Li Tao (b. 1981, Xi’an) graduated from the Chinese Painting Department of Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts in 2003.

Over the past two decades, Li has been deeply engaged in exploring contemporary expressions of traditional ink painting, gradually developing a distinctive visual language that fuses classical ink techniques with modern approaches to color and diverse water-based media. Drawing inspiration from everyday objects, Li’s works extend the emotional and spiritual dimensions of these familiar forms through delicate yet dynamic brushwork, offering a perceptive reflection on the state of life and being.

His work has been widely exhibited across China and Asia, and is part of the permanent collection of the Shaanxi Province Art Museum.

A Plate of Fruits

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A Plate of Fruits

Artist:

2025

Ink, acrylic and watercolor on rice paper

H 44 x 30 cm

A Plate of Fruits

2025

Ink, acrylic and watercolor on rice paper

H 44 x 30 cm

A Single Blossom

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A Single Blossom

Artist:

2025

Ink, acrylic and watercolor on rice paper

H 30 x 44 cm

A Single Blossom

2025

Ink, acrylic and watercolor on rice paper

H 30 x 44 cm

Abundance

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Abundance

Artist:

2025

Ink, acrylic and watercolor on rice paper

H 100 x 50 cm x 4

Abundance

2025

Ink, acrylic and watercolor on rice paper

H 100 x 50 cm x 4

Adrift

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Adrift

Artist:

2013

Ink and color on rice paper

H 45 x 90 cm

Adrift

2013

Ink and color on rice paper

H 45 x 90 cm

Arrival

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Arrival

Artist:

2015

Ink and color on rice paper

H 142 x 142 cm

Arrival

2015

Ink and color on rice paper

H 142 x 142 cm

Blossom

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Blossom

Artist:

2016

Ink and acrylic on paper

H 200 x 138 cm

Blossom

2016

Ink and acrylic on paper

H 200 x 138 cm

Butterfly Bloom

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Butterfly Bloom

Artist:

2025

Ink, acrylic and watercolor on rice paper

H 45 x 58 cm

Butterfly Bloom

2025

Ink, acrylic and watercolor on rice paper

H 45 x 58 cm

Cherries

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Cherries

Artist:

2025

Ink, acrylic and gouache on rice paper

H 34 x 43 cm

Cherries

2025

Ink, acrylic and gouache on rice paper

H 34 x 43 cm

Crown

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Crown

Artist:

2015

Ink and color on rice paper

H 45 x 180 cm

Crown

2015

Ink and color on rice paper

H 45 x 180 cm

Dairy No.1

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Dairy No.1

Artist:

2018

Ink and color on rice paper

H 45 x 60 cm

Dairy No.1

2018

Ink and color on rice paper

H 45 x 60 cm

Diary No.0

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Diary No.0

Artist:

2018

Ink and color on rice paper

H 60 x 45 cm

Diary No.0

2018

Ink and color on rice paper

H 60 x 45 cm

Diary No.5

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Diary No.5

Artist:

2018

Ink and color on rice paper

H 60 x 45 cm

Diary No.5

2018

Ink and color on rice paper

H 60 x 45 cm

Born

1981 Born in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China

Education

2003
Chinese Painting Department, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts, Xi’an

Solo Exhibitions

2024
Autumn in Full Bloom, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai

2023
The Floating Drama, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai

2015
Rise, Aura Gallery, Beijing
Sapiens, Aura Gallery, Taipei

2014
Space Oddity, Aura Gallery, Taipei
Pilgrimage, Aura Gallery, Beijing

2013
Play with Me, Artspace & Gallery, Beijing

2011
My Marshmallow?, Line Art Gallery, Beijing

2010
The Forgotten Marshmallow, Thread Gallery, Beijing

Group Exhibitions

2025
Soft Spoken Deeply Seen, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai, China

2024
In The Flow, Mirror Space, Shaoxing
Shanghai Calling, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai China

2023
Worlds on Paper, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai

2021
City Coordinates – National Tour of Ink Art, Shanghai
The First Xi’an Youth Painting Exhibition: Voice of Chang’an – Xi’an Youth Ink Painting Exhibition, Xi’an Art Museum, Xi’an

2020
The Seventh Star Project, Tree Art Museum, Beijing
Closed Collection Art Exhibition, Jia Ping’ao Culture and Art Museum, Xi’an
Refreshing, Lingang Art Museum, Shanghai
City Coordinate – Wuhu Ink Art National Touring Exhibition, Wuhu Art Museum

2019
Sino-German Artist Exhibition, HISMOON, Taicang, Jiangsu
Beyond the Plateau, Shaanxi Province Art Museum, Xi’an
Memory of Phenomena, Yaner Bay Contemporary Art Museum, Lanzhou
Experience Reconstruction, Meibo Art Museum,Shanghai

2018
Redefining the City with Context, Xi’an Art Museum, Xi’an
Contemporary Youth Ink Painting Exhibition, Xingtan Art Museum, Beijing
Beijing Youth Art Biennale, The China Millennium Monument, Beijing

2017
Ink Global, Hong Kong Exhibition Center, Hong Kong

2015
Painting Reading, Aura Gallery, Taipei
Spring Affairs, Aura Gallery, Beijing

2013
Evidence, Aura Gallery, Taipei
The 3rd “Plateau – Plateau” Western China Art Exhibition, Shaanxi Province Art Museum, Xi’an
Stele Pavilion – New Generation, Today Art Museum, Beijing
Roam and Art – Caesar Rising Artist Exhibition, Today Art Museum, Beijing
The Angel’s Collection, HiHey Art, Beijing

2012
Two Utopias, Ming Art Gallery, Beijing
Crossover, Crossover Center, Beijing
Parallel Lines, Navel Art Space, Beijing
Future China, Times Museum, Beijing
Unintentional Collision, Tree Art Museum, Beijing
The 3rd Exhibition of Chinese Flower-and-Bird Painting, Shaanxi Provincial Museum, Xi’an

2010
The 1st New Start Art Festival, Chengdu New International Convention Center, Chengdu
Annual Exhibition, Shang Yuan Art Museum, Beijing

2007
National Art Exhibition for the 80th Anniversary of Foundation of Army, Shaanxi Province Art Museum, Xi’an

2006
The 13th Shaanxi Provincial Sports and Art Exhibition, Shaanxi Province Art Museum, Xi’an

Bibliography

2015
Collection Today Art, June issue

2014
ARTCO Magazine, August issue
CANS Magazine, September issue

2013
Artnows Magazine, May issue

2012
Contemporary Art Magazine, May issue
Art Tip-Top Magazine, Issue 6

2011
a+a Magazine, February issue

2009
Kuart Magazine, October issue
NEW VISION Magazine, Issue 6

2007
Art and Culture Newspaperw3, Issue 2067

Publication

2014
Li Tao: Space Oddity, Aura studio

Collections

Shaanxi Province Art Museum, Xi’an