Culture

Famous Artists from China

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Updated August 30, 2019 105.4k views 251 items

List of the most popular artists from China, listed alphabetically with photos when available. For centuries artists have been among the world's most important people, helping chronicle history and keep us entertained with one of the earliest forms of entertainment. Make sure to also check out famous artists from Japan and famous South Korean artists. Whether they're known for painting, sculpting, etching or drawing, the famous Chinese artists on this list have kept that tradition alive by creating renowned pieces of art that have been praised around the world. You can find useful information below about these notable Chinese artists, such as when they were born and where their place of birth was.

Ai Weiwei and Muqi Fachang are included in this list.

This list answers the questions, "Which famous artists are from China?" and "Who are the most well-known Chinese artists?"

For further information on these historic Chinese artists, click on their names. If you're a fine art lover use this list of celebrated Chinese artists to discover some new paintings that you will enjoy.

Ai Weiwei is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list Famous Artists from China
Circle of Animals / Zodiac Heads, Coca-Cola vase, Sunflower Seeds

Birthplace: China, Beijing, Eurasia

Nationality: China

Ai Weiwei is a film producer and film director.
Muqi Fachang is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list Famous Artists from China
Muqi Fachang Six Persimmons

Nationality: China

Muqi or Muxi (Chinese: 牧谿; Japanese: Mokkei; 1210?–1269?), also known as Fachang (Chinese: 法常), was a Chinese Chan Buddhist monk and painter who lived in the 13th century, around the end of the ...more
Zao Wou Ki is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list Famous Artists from China
Zao Wou Ki Scene Chinoise

Birthplace: Beijing, China

Nationality: China, France

Zao Wou-Ki (pinyin: Zhào Wújí; Wade–Giles: Chao Wu-chi; 13 February 1920 – 9 April 2013) was a Chinese-French painter. He was a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts ...more
Yue Minjun is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list Famous Artists from China
Yue Minjun Execution

Birthplace: Daqing, China

Nationality: China

Yue Minjun (Chinese: 岳敏君; born 1962) is a contemporary Chinese artist based in Beijing, China. He is best known for oil paintings depicting himself in various settings, frozen in laughter. He ...more
Liu Kang is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list Famous Artists from China
Life by the River, Adjusting the Waistband, Roast Pork Stall

Birthplace: Fujian, China

Nationality: China, Singapore

Liu Kang (Chinese: liu kayng; pinyin: Liú Kàng) was a Singaporean artist known for his Balinese-themed figurative paintings. He was a founding member of the Singapore Art Society, ...more
Yonfan is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list Famous Artists from China

Birthplace: China, Wuhan

Nationality: China

Yonfan (born 14 October 1947) is a Hong Kong film director and photographer.
Xu Bing is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list Famous Artists from China
A Book from the Sky, Lost Letters, Big Tire

Birthplace: Chongqing, China

Nationality: China, United States of America

Xu Bing (Chinese: 徐冰; pinyin: Xú Bīng; born 1955) is a Chinese artist who lived in the United States for eighteen years. Currently residing in Beijing, he used to serve as the ...more
Wang Wei is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list Famous Artists from China

Birthplace: Jinzhong, China

Nationality: China

Wang Wei (Chinese: 王維; 699–759) was a Chinese poet, musician, painter, and politician during the Tang dynasty. He was one of the most famous men of arts and letters of his time. Many of his ...more
Cai Guo-Qiang is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list Famous Artists from China
Borrowing Your Enemy's Arrows

Birthplace: Quanzhou, China

Nationality: China

Cai Guo-Qiang (Chinese: 蔡国强; born 8 December 1957) is a Chinese artist who currently lives and works in New York City and New Jersey.
Qi Baishi is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list Famous Artists from China
Eagle Standing on Pine Tree, Jade Spade, Long Melons

Birthplace: Xiangtan, China

Nationality: China

Qi Baishi (1 January 1864 – 16 September 1957) was a Chinese painter, noted for the whimsical, often playful style of his watercolor works. Born to a peasant family from Xiangtan, Hunan, Qi ...more
Gu Kaizhi is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list Famous Artists from China

Birthplace: Wuxi, China

Nationality: China

Gu Kaizhi (simplified Chinese: 顾恺之; traditional Chinese: 顧愷之; pinyin: Gù Kǎizhī; Wade–Giles: Ku K'ai-chih; c. 344–406), courtesy name Changkang (長康), was a Chinese painter and politician. ...more
Ni Zan is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list Famous Artists from China
The Distant Cold Flow Pine, The Rongxi Studio, Sorrow While Traveling

Birthplace: Wuxi, China

Nationality: China

Ni Zan (Chinese: 倪瓚; 1301–1374) was a Chinese painter during the Yuan and early Ming periods. Along with Huang Gongwang, Wu Zhen, and Wang Meng, he is considered to be one of the Four Masters of ...more
Tang Yin is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list Famous Artists from China
Mountain Scene

Birthplace: Changzhou, China

Nationality: China

Tang Yin (Chinese: 唐寅; pinyin: Táng Yín; Cantonese Yale: Tong Yan; 1470–1524), courtesy name Tang Bohu (唐伯虎), was a Chinese scholar, painter, calligrapher, and poet of the Ming ...more
Wang Shimin is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list Famous Artists from China
Wang Shimin Studio in the mountain, Summer mountain after rain, Houses in the Forest

Birthplace: Taicang, China

Nationality: China

Wáng Shímǐn (simplified Chinese: 王时敏; traditional Chinese: 王時敏; Wade–Giles: Wang Shih-min; ca. 1592-1680 ) was a Chinese landscape painter during the late Ming Dynasty and early ...more
Xu Wei is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list Famous Artists from China
Grapes, Bamboo

Birthplace: Shaoxing, China

Nationality: China

Xu Wei (Chinese: 徐渭; pinyin: Xú Wèi; Wade–Giles: Hsü Wei, 1521–1593) was a Ming dynasty Chinese painter, poet, writer and dramatist famed for his artistic expressiveness. ...more
Shitao is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list Famous Artists from China

Birthplace: Quanzhou County

Nationality: China

Shitao or Shi Tao (simplified Chinese: 石涛; traditional Chinese: 石濤; pinyin: Shí Tāo; Wade–Giles: Shih-t'ao; 1642–1707), born into the Ming dynasty imperial clan as Zhu Ruoji (朱若極), was a ...more
Shen Quan is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list Famous Artists from China
Shen Quan

Birthplace: China

Nationality: China

Shen Quan (simplified Chinese: 沈铨; traditional Chinese: 沈銓; pinyin: Shěn Quán; Wade–Giles: Shen Ch'üan; c. 1682–1760) was a Chinese painter during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912). His ...more
Wen Zhengming is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list Famous Artists from China
Living Aloft: Master Liu's Retreat, Scholar Seated in Grove, Crossing the Bridge

Birthplace: Suzhou, China

Nationality: China

Wen Zhengming (November 28, 1470–1559), born Wen Bi, was a leading Ming dynasty painter, calligrapher, poet, and scholar. He was regarded as one of the Four Masters of Ming painting.
Feng Zikai is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list Famous Artists from China
Winter Holiday, Grandma Reminiscing, Tilting Dolls and Flowers

Birthplace: China, Eurasia, Zhejiang, Jiaxing, Tongxiang

Nationality: China

Feng Zikai (simplified Chinese: 丰子恺; traditional Chinese: 豐子愷; pinyin: Fēng Zǐkǎi) (November 9, 1898 – September 15, 1975) was an influential Chinese painter, pioneering manhua (漫画) artist, ...more
Wu Guanzhong is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list Famous Artists from China
Flower, Fishes, Toyko at Night

Birthplace: China, Eurasia, Yixing, Jiangsu

Nationality: China

Wu Guanzhong (simplified Chinese: 吴冠中; traditional Chinese: 吳冠中; pinyin: Wú Guànzhōng; 29 August 1919 – 25 June 2010) was a contemporary Chinese painter widely recognized as a ...more
Zhao Xiaoding is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list Famous Artists from China

Birthplace: Beijing, China

Nationality: China

Zhao Xiaoding (Mandarin pronunciation: [ʈʂâu̯ ɕi̯àu̯tíŋ]) is a Chinese photographer and cinematographer. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for ...more
Wucius Wong is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list Famous Artists from China
Waterfall Dream no. 2, Waterfall Dream no. 1, Nine Spaces No. 7

Birthplace: China

Nationality: China
Chua Ek Kay is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list Famous Artists from China

Birthplace: Guangdong Province, China

Nationality: China, Singapore

Chua Ek Kay (Chinese: 蔡逸溪; pinyin: Cài Yìxī) (1947 – 8 February 2008) was a Singaporean artist hailed as the "bridge between Asian and Western art" with a unique painting ...more
Martin Wong is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list Famous Artists from China

Birthplace: Portland, Oregon

Nationality: China, United States of America

Martin Wong (July 11, 1946 – August 12, 1999) was a Chinese-American painter of the late twentieth century. His work has been described as a meticulous blend of social realism and visionary art ...more
Mi Fu is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list Famous Artists from China

Birthplace: Jiangsu, China

Nationality: China

Mi Fu (Chinese: 米芾 or 米黻; pinyin: Mǐ Fú, also given as Mi Fei, 1051–1107) was a Chinese painter, poet, and calligrapher born in Taiyuan during the Song dynasty. He became known for his ...more