Jie Li

With a foundational background in textile design, my early career was dedicated to the rhythmic beauty of patterns and fabrics. However, a persistent yearning for a more profound, personal expression led me beyond the boundaries of design. This creative evolution reached a turning point upon my immigration to the United States, where I transitioned into the timeless medium of oil painting—a self-taught journey fueled by a desire to capture the pulse of everyday life.
My artistic language initially found its voice in Surrealism, later distilling into a focused study of ordinary objects under a singular light source. This period of quiet observation taught me to find the profound in the mundane, using light and shadow to reveal the hidden dignity of the simplest forms.
Today, my work has evolved into a realm I call "Imagined Realities." Utilizing hyper-realistic techniques, I construct scenes that possess an unsettling authenticity at first glance, yet depict physical impossibilities. These paradoxes serve as a vehicle for my deeper understanding of existence—challenging the viewer to question the boundary between what we see and what we know. I no longer just depict beauty; I build windows into a world where the familiar and the imp...

Shandong University of Art and Design

 Ridgewood Art Institute 45th Annual Open Juried Show, 2025
 Oil Painters of America 2024 Eastern Regional Exhibition
 Hudson Valley Art Association 91st Annual National Juried Exhibition, 2024
 Ridgewood Art Institute 44th Annual Open Juried Show, 2024
 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition In Kansas, 2024
 “Small Wonders” NJAA group show in Arts On Main Gallery, 10/2023
 “Just the Thing” NJAA group show in County College of Morris, 09/2023
 “What’s Up” NJAA group show in Morris County Library, 08/2023
 “Realism on Hudson” by American Artists Professional League, 08-10/2023
 OPA Summer online show in 2023
 OPA Spring online show in 2023
 The 43th Annual Juried Art Exhibition at the Monmouth Museum, 01/ 2023
 “THIS IS IT!” NJAA Springfield Library show, 07/ 2023
 “WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT... ” -NJAA group show in Crane's Mill Towne Square, 12/2022
 "JUST SUPPOSE..." -NJAA group show in Bernardsville Library—10/ 2022
 “Imagine that” -NJAA group show in Chatham Library, 09/ 2022
 “This Just In” -NJAA group show in Morris County Library, 08/2022
 “INSPIRATIONS” -NJAA group show in Chilton Medical Center, 06/2022
 16th International ARC Salon Competition
 The 40th Annual Juried Art Exhibition...