Li Tao

1981 Born in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China

Currently lives and works in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China

Li Tao’s unique style has been formed partly by the influence of his hometown and its firm basis in ancient Chinese culture. Drawing on the rich traditions of ancient Chinese ink painting, Li Tao creates powerful and dynamic compositions that reflect both his cultural heritage and contemporary ideas, paying tribute to the country's past and yet rebelling against the norms of these traditions with a strong and willful intent to be wild, playful, and expressive.

Li Tao's work is distinguished by his bold use of color and dynamic brushwork, which he combines with traditional ink painting techniques to create striking compositions that capture the essence of a free mind. His paintings often depict iconic and mundane subjects with a twist, which he renders in a fresh, humorous, innovative, reverent, and forward-thinking style.


Night Bloom
Li Tao

Immortality 2
Li Tao

Summer Solstice
Li Tao

Orchids in a Tranquil Valley
Li Tao

Three Peaches
Li Tao

Summer and Autumn 4
Li Tao

Summer and Autumn 5
Li Tao

Sway
Li Tao

Summer Fruits
Li Tao

Opening
Li Tao

Pumpkin
Li Tao

Seeds
Li Tao

Toward the Sky
Li Tao

Ruby Red
Li Tao

Lotus
Li Tao

Blossom
Li Tao

Floating Clouds
Li Tao

Ever After
Li Tao

Adrift
Li Tao

Pomegranate No.8
Li Tao

Interacting
Li Tao

Arrival
Li Tao

Crown
Li Tao

Game
Li Tao

Solitude No.2
Li Tao

Grain Rain
Li Tao

Rain
Li Tao

Sunglow
Li Tao

Diary No.0
Li Tao

Immortality
Li Tao

Rise
Li Tao

Diary No.5
Li Tao

Silence
Li Tao

Flood
Li Tao

Diary No.1
Li Tao
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

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

COLLECTION

Shaanxi Province Art Museum, Xi’an