Introduction to Ming Ren

Ming Ren’s ink wash style is unique, blending characteristics of Eastern and Western cultures: his works are innovative, highly original in both concept and execution, rendering them unreplicable. They possess a distinct style, offering viewers a unique visual experience and a space for imaginative and poetic contemplation. Over the years, his works have been exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide, including in the United States. In 2003, his artwork was awarded the gold prize at the Florence International Biennial of Modern Art in Italy, and his pieces have been collected by institutions such as the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco and the RISD Museum.

 

 

His art books, “Poetry Within Paintings” and “Surprising Serendipity,” are held in collections of prestigious institutions such as the Library of Congress, Harvard University, Yale University, and Stanford University. Notable deans and directors from eight prestigious art institutions in both China and the United States, including the China Academy of Art, Luxun Academy of Fine Arts, Rhode Island School of Design, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, California College of the Arts, San Francisco Art Institute, and the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, have written forewords for his art books, affirming his artistic innovation and achievements.

Education

1991  Master’s degree from the San Francisco Art Institute

1984: Bachelor’s degree from the China Academy of Art

 

Current Positions

Professor, Department of Art, San Francisco State University, USA

International Ph.D. Supervisor, Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, China

Visiting Professor, Mural Department, Central Academy of Fine Arts, China

Visiting Professor, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, China

 

Past Positions

1988 – 2008  Professor at Rhode Island School of Design, USA

2006-2018  Professor and Special Assistant to the Dean at San Francisco Art Institute, USA

2008-2012  Special Assistant to the Dean at California College of the Arts, USA

2016-2023  Director of International Graduate Programs at China Academy of Art, China

2013-2020  Master’s Thesis Advisor at Luxun Academy of Fine Arts, China

 

Awards

2003: Gold Prize at the Florence International Biennial of Modern Art in Italy

 

Artwork Collections and Publications

In 2011, three pieces, “Warm Breeze of the Himalayas,” “2009A,” and “2009F,” were acquired by the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, USA.

In 2007, the art book “Poetry Within Paintings: Works by Ming Ren” and in 2010, the art book “Surprising Serendipity: New Works by Ming Ren” were published.

These collections are held by prestigious institutions such as the Library of Congress, Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University, Rhode Island School of Design, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, California College of the Arts, San Francisco Art Institute, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, USA.

 

Exhibitions

2023 Shanghai Chinese Art Palace, China

2022 Silicon Valley Asian Art Center; China, Shanghai Chinese Art Palace, USA

2021 Akron Art Museum, USA

2019 New York Citi Field, USA; Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Art Museum, China

2018 an Francisco Asian Art Museum, USA

2017 China Academy of Art Art Museum; Shandong Art Museum, China

2016 San Francisco Asian Art Museum, USA

2015 San Francisco Art Center, USA

2014 San Francisco Peninsula Museum of Art, USA; Beijing 798 Art Center, China

2013 Roos Art Museum, USA

2012 Shenyang Luxun Academy of Fine Arts Art Museum, China; Shanghai M50 Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts Creative Center, China; San Francisco University Art Center, USA

2011 Beijing Ring Rail Era Art Museum, China; California Saga Mandala LIMN Gallery, USA

2010 San Francisco LIMN Gallery, USA

2009 San Francisco Lin Mu Gallery, USA; San Francisco JFK University Art Gallery, USA

2008 Los Angeles Lin Mu Gallery, USA

2007 San Francisco City Art Gallery, USA

2006 San Francisco City Art Gallery, USA

2005 San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artist Gallery, USA

2004 San Francisco City Art Gallery, USA

2003 Florence International Contemporary Art Biennale, Italy; San Francisco City Art Gallery, USA

2002 Rhode Island School of Design Woskob Gallery, USA

2001 San Francisco City Art Gallery; San Francisco Hitachi Center, USA

2000 Shanghai University College of Fine Arts Gallery,China; San Francisco City Art Gallery, USA

1999 San Francisco City Art Gallery, USA

1998 San Francisco Lin Mu Gallery, USA

1997 San Francisco City Art Gallery, USA

1996 San Francisco City Art Gallery, USA

1995 Milpitas Hainan Art Center, USA

1994 San Francisco Dongfeng Art Gallery, USA

1993 Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taiwan

1991 San Francisco Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, USA

1990 San Francisco Watt McMillan Gallery, USA

1989 Minnesota, Edina CG REIN Gallery, USA

1988 Minnesota, Edina Art Center, USA; Los Angeles St. Bonaventure Museum, USA

 

Lectures and Academic Presentations

2022 Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, China

2019 Central Academy of Fine Arts, China; Sichuan Fine Arts Academy, China

2018 Luxun Academy of Fine Arts, China

2017 Central Academy of Fine Arts, China

2006 Luxun Academy of Fine Arts, China

1998 Central Academy of Fine Arts, China

1997 Central Academy of Fine Arts, China; Shanghai University College of Fine Arts, China; Sichuan Fine Arts Academy, China

1996 China Academy of Art, China

1994 China Academy of Art, China

1992 Seattle Showland History Museum, USA; Northwest China Art Association, China

1988 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Campus, USA

Art Design Center College, USA

Visual Arts Academy, New York, USA

Edina Art Center, Minnesota, USA

Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts, USA

Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, USA

Brown University, USA