Ping Shen

About the Artist

Ping Shen is a trained artist who specializes in using traditional Chinese Gongbi painting techniques to create contemporary artwork inspired by her rich life experiences in China and America. Using various brush sizes and shapes on Chinese rice paper, her expressive watercolors feature portraits, figures, animals and flowers. Ping’s work builds a bridge between traditional and contemporary by showcasing ancient painting techniques and mediums in a modern and simply beautiful way. She creates artwork that evokes feelings of happiness and pleasant emotion. Ping earned her MFA in China and currently lives and works in the United States in Annapolis, Maryland. Her works have been exhibited nationwide in China since 2007, and appeared on the national art stage in the United States in 2013.

Artist's Statement

I enjoy painting with Chinese Gongbi technique. People, animals and flowers are the subjects that I usually work on. I would like to create art works that people can understand and appreciate no matter what background they come from. The Gongbi painting has a long history however its uniformity limits chances of further evolution. Diverse communities and cultural conflict bring me inspiration in my paintings. I am working to widen range of subjects, such as western themes. In addition I am exploring assimilation of traditional form into variety of contemporary life.