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1948
Born in Shanghai, China
1954
Began studying Chinese ink painting under Wang Chimei, son of Wang Yiting
1964
Began studying Western painting and drawing under Zhang Chongren, a graduate of the Belgium Royal Academy of Art
1969-1976
During the Cultural Revolution, was a propaganda artist for the Communist Party
Late-1970s
Visited a number of China's significant scenic, historic and cultural sites once travel restrictions eased after the Cultural Revolution including the celebrated peaks of Huangshan in Anhui Province
Late 1970s
In Gansu Province, Li taught himself the early history of Chinese painting and achieved an understanding of religious painting through informal study of the Buddhist cave temples at Dunhuang
1978
Travelled to Beijing to see his first Northern Song landscape painting and first major exhibition of modern Western art
1982
Moved to San Francisco in the United States
1984
Received his Master of Fine Arts Degree from Academy of Art, San Francisco
Held his first one-man exhibition in America at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, featuring a combination of Dunhuang-style paintings and Abstract Expressionist works, which received critical acclaim from the leading scholar of Chinese painting, Michael Sullivan
1993
Began creating Monumental Landscapes works
Explored the prospects and boundaries of abstract painting combined with elements from early Chinese art. Created his signature style featuring grand mountain compositions that recall the monumental landscapes of the Northern Song dynasty
1996
Publication of "Li Huayi Landscape Paintings (1993-95)"
1997
Began creating Rock, Bamboo and Moonlight works
Solo Exhibition, "The Landscapes of Li Huayi" at Kaikodo, New York, United States
Publication of "The Landscapes of Li Huayi", Exhibition Catalogue
1999
Group Exhibition, "In Concert: Landscapes by Li Huayi and Zhang Hong" at Kaikodo, New York, United States
Publication of "In Concert: Landscapes by Li Huayi and Zhang Hong", Exhibition Catalogue
2000s
Made a number of pilgrimages to famous mountains in China including Huangshan Mountain in Anhui, Wuyishan in Fujian, Zhangjiajie in Hunan, and Huashan in Shanxi, as well as an exploration of Li Cheng's home territory in Shandong
2004
Solo Exhibition, "The Monumental Landscapes of Li Huayi" at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, United States
Publication of "The Monumental Landscapes of Li Huayi", Exhibition Catalogue
2005
Became a disciple of Chen Pei Qiu, master of Chinese painting from Shanghai
Began creating Fan Format and Small Format works
2006
Made a pilgrimage to Mount Lu or Lushan in Jiangxi.
Began creating Multiple Screen Installation works
2007
First visited Xinjiang and Zhejiang Provinces
Solo Exhibition, "Mountain Landscapes by Li Huayi", Eskenazi Gallery, London, United Kingdom
Publication of "Mountain Landscapes by Li Huayi", Exhibition Catalogue
2008
Solo Exhibition, "Li Huayi at 60: Paintings in the Yiqingzhai Collection" at The Ink Society, Hong Kong, China
Publication of "Li Huayi at 60: Paintings in the Yiqingzhai Collection", Exhibition Catalogue
Began creating Works of Gilded Screens
2009
Made a pilgrimage to Xinjiang, China
2010
Solo Exhibition, "Trees, Rocks, Mist and Mountains by Li Huayi", Eskenazi Gallery, New York Asia Week, New York, United States
Publication of "Trees, Rocks, Mist and Mountains by Li Huayi", Exhibition Catalogue
Began creating his series "Exotica", in which he translated a newfound invisible energy he discovered in his travels that triggered a subconscious evolution within himself and resulted in a fresh outlook on the world
2011
Solo Exhibition, "Images of the Mind: The Ink Painting of Li Huayi", National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
Solo Exhibition, "Beyond Representation: Li Huayi's New Art", Beijing Center for the Arts, Beijing, China
Publication of "Beyond Representation: Li Huayi's New Art", Exhibition Catalogue
Solo Exhibition, "The Twelve Animals of the Zodiac by Li Huayi", Eskenazi Gallery, London, United Kingdom
Publication of "The Twelve Animals of the Zodiac", Exhibition Catalogue
2012
Group Exhibition,“Associated Exhibition of Contemporary Ink Painting by Li Huayi and Li Jin”, at Gallery 100, Taipei, Taiwan
Publication of "Li Huayi", Exhibition Catalogue for “Associated Exhibition of Contemporary Ink Painting by Li Huayi and Li Jin”
2014
Solo Exhibition, "Waterfalls, Rocks and Bamboo by Li Huayi", at Eskenazi Gallery, London, the United Kingdom
Publication of "Waterfalls, Rocks and Bamboo by Li Huayi", Exhibition Catalogue
2015
Took a month-long trip to hike East Tianmu Mountain, Huangshan Mountain, Qiyun Mountain, Jiuhua Mountain and Tianzhu Mountain in Anhui Province; to cross the Wulong natural karst bridges in Chongqing; and to explore the previously inaccessible areas of Shichuan, Hubei and Hunan, including the UNESCO World Heritage site of Wulingyuan
2016
Solo Exhibition of "Exotica: Recent Works of Li Huayi", Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery, Hong Kong, China
Publication of "Exotica: Latest Works of Li Huayi", by Kwai Fung Art Publishing House
2017
Solo Exhibition, "Fantasies on Paper and Enchantments in Gold", Suzhou Museum, Suzhou, China
Solo Exhibition of "Li Huayi", Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery, Art Basel, Hong Kong, China
Solo Exhibition, "Landscapes in New Dimensions", Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery, Hong Kong, China
Publication of "Li Huayi: Landscapes from a Master’s Heart", Monograph, by Rizzoli International Publications Inc. and Kwai Fung Art Publishing
Currently lives and works in Beijing, China.
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