J Jie Li

J. Jie Li is a New York–based contemporary fine artist whose layered watercolor and mixed-media compositions explore the liminal landscapes of human existence—traversing desire, loss, resilience, and spiritual awakening. Grounded in a deep reverence for the natural world and informed by the shared vulnerabilities of our epoch, her work addresses a core existential imperative: that the destruction of the physical environment directly mirrors the quiet, systemic decay of the human soul.

Born with a profound connection to Eastern philosophy, J. Li holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from Parsons School of Design in New York. Transitioning from a distinguished career in fashion to dedicate herself fully to fine art, her practice is deeply catalyzed by Zen Buddhism, Daoist thought, and Schopenhauerian existential gravity. Subverting watercolor’s traditional reputation for lightness and delicacy, J. Li transforms the medium into a structural, high-gravity vehicle. Through heavy layers of pigment, soot, slate, and expressive ink washes, she juxtaposes dry, scraped textures against fluid, bleeding tones—channeling the untamed energy of cursive calligraphy (Kuangcao) and the raw momentum of large-scale freehand ink (Daxiei).

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EDUCATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) – Parsons School of Design, New York, USA

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
* Board Member & Signature Member – Watercolor USA Honor Society (WHS)
* Signature Member – American Artists Professional League (AAPL)

RESIDENCIES, MASTER CLASSES & DEMONSTRATIONS
2026 Demonstrator, "The World’s Elite Watercolour Masters Demonstration", International Watercolour Masters, UK
2024 Master Class Instructor, Bienal Internacional de Caudete & La Casa Negra, Spain
2024 Live Watercolor Demonstration, La Asunción Cultural Center, Albacete, Spain
2019 Master Class Guest Artist, V International Biennale, Spain
2019 Sunny Art Prize Residency & Exhibition, Sunny Art Centre (London & Shanghai)

SELECTED SOLO & TWO-ARTIST EXHIBITIONS
2025 Whispers Through the Veil: Reflections on the Inner Horizon, Museo de la Semana Santa de Hellín, Spain
2024 The Appearance, La Casa Negra & Bienal Internacional de Caudete, Spain
2024 Behind the Appearance, La Asunción Cultural Center, Albacete, Spain
2023 Behind the Appearance, Asociación De Artistas Cadmio, Spain
2023 Behind the Appearance, Casa de Cultura de Caudete, Spain
2022 Behind the Appearance, Centro Cultural Gómez Tortosa, Spain
2020 Ignited (Two-Artist Exhibition), Ormond Memorial Art Museum, Florida, USA

SELECTED GROUP & INSTITUTIONAL EXHIBITIONS
* Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK — Summer Exhibition (2022 Exhibited; 2019, 2024 Shortlisted)
* Springfield Art Museum / Spiva Arts Center, USA — Watercolor USA (2018–2025)
* San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild, USA — International Juried Exhibition (2022, 2024, 2025, 2026)
* International Watercolour Masters, Lilleshall Hall, Shropshire, UK (2026)
* Mall Galleries, London, UK — Society of Women Artists / New English Art Club (2019, 2020)
* Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, USA — Annual National Juried Exhibition (2020–2022)
* Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, USA — Metro Montage (2020, 2021, 2022, 2024)
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