With “building block landscape” as the standout graphic image, Lego blocks convert traditional painting into a blend of past and present possessing contemporary elements. The style of the work is transformed from various visual arts characteristics so that, while the influence of classical Chinese landscape painting is inherent, life experience is cleverly blended into the image produced.
Steeped in the visual experience of growing up in modern cities, the influence of Chinese landscape painting’s guiding principle of “teaching and methods of nature” is not intentional for Zhang Xiao Li. Instead, she searches for ways to convey individual states of existence and artificial living systems through a language of landscapes. From her foundation in the training of Western painting, she moves in and out of Eastern visual vocabulary, horizontal and vertical lines, geometric shapes, washes of color and painting mediums, traditional landscape motifs and modern entertainment like Lego pieces, to reconstruct her own jumbled perspective of East, West, ancient, and modern.

1989 Born in Guizhou, China
Education
Present Studying for a Ph.D., Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
2021 Master degree, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
2014 Bachelor, First Honour, double major in Fine Arts and Biology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Solo Exhibitions
2024 Whimsical Maze, New York, USA
2023 Zhang Xiaoli: Spectacular at the Tannhauser Gate, Zhejiang Art Museum, Hangzhou, China
2020 Li Galaxy, Tong Gallery, Beijing, China
2019 Curio Boxes: Zhang Xiaoli’s Portable Landscapes, Daguan Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
Group Exhibitions
2025-2026 10th Beijing International Art Biennale: International Contemporary Ink Art Special Exhibition, Beijing Exhibition Centre, Beijing, China (Until 28 Jan, 2026)
2025 Soul Garden, Shanghai Botanical Garden Exhibition Hall, Shanghai, China
2025 Fine Art Asia, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
2025 Tradition Transformed, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
2024 Landscape in Motion, Fine Art Asia, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
2024 Themes and Variations, Alisan Fine Arts, New York, USA
2024 Wandering in the Gardens of Jiangnan, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Confucius Institute, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Carré à la Farine Exhibition Hall, Versailles, France
2024 14th National Art Exhibition, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
2023 Ink Asia & Fine Art Asia Special Project: The Aesthetics of Wandering, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
2023 CUHK 60th Anniversary Alumni Arts Exhibition: Where Great Minds Shine, Arts Pavilion, Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong
2023 Art Basel Hong Kong, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
2023 Ink Alchemy: Beyond Tradition, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
2023 NFT Paris, Grand Palais, Paris, France
2022 Contemporary Chinese Art, Asian Art in London, Alisan Fine Arts, Cromwell Place, London, UK
2021 POP ROCK, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
2021 Chinese Surrealism, French May Arts Festival Associated Project, Alisan Fine Arts-Aberdeen, Hong Kong
2020 As Time Goes by… New Stories from the Garden, Suzhou Design Week, The Surging Wave Pavillion & Ke Yuan, Suzhou, China
2020 Uniquely Hong Kong: A Celebration in Hong Kong Art, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
2020 Contemporary Forms of Ink Painting, Alisan Fine Arts, Art Basel Online Viewing Rooms, Hong Kong
2019 Art 021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair 2019, Alisan Fine Arts, Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Shanghai, China
2019 Art Basel Hong Kong, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
2018 Art 021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair 2018, Alisan Fine Arts, Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Shanghai, China
2018 HOPE A charity exhibition celebrating the works of outstanding contemporary Chinese women artists, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
2018 Affordable Art Fair: Young Talented Program 2018, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
2017 Desiring: Post 97 Hong Kong Ink Art, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
2017 Ink Asia, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
2017 Contemporary Neoclassic: Hong Kong Ink Art, Daguan Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2016 Youth Will, Beijing Youth Art Biennial, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
2016 Affordable Art Fair, Metropolitan Pavilion, New York, USA
2015 2+2, EC Gallery, Hong Kong
2015 OFF COURSE: Brussels Art Fair, Brussels, Belgium
2015 Senses: Exhibition of Works by Young Emerging Hong Kong Artists, University Museum & Art Gallery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2014 Fresh Trend 2014, Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong
2014 Fine Art Asia, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
2014 Graduation Show of Fine Arts Department, Art Museum of Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2014 Lone, Hui’s Gallery, Hong Kong
2013 Our 1989, Taipei National University of Arts, Taipei, Taiwan
Awards
2023 Gold Award, Liu Kuo-Sung Ink Art Award, co-presented by Liu Kuo-sung Foundation, Taiwan; and Ink Society, Hong Kong
2014 Y.S. Hui Fine Arts Award, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2014 Wucius Wong Creative Ink Painting Award, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2013 Convocation Outstanding Creativity Student Award 2012/2013, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2008 Ms. Chu Lam Yiu Scholarship
Collection
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, USA