J Jie Li

J. Jie Li is a New York-based contemporary artist whose work explores the spiritual and emotional landscapes of human existence—suffering, desire, loss, and the elusive search for inner peace. Known for her evocative visual language, she weaves philosophical inquiry into layered watercolor and mixed-media compositions that bridge abstraction and symbolism. Her paintings are not merely visual depictions, but meditations—a dialogue between herself and the unseen forces that shape our lives.

After earning her BFA from Parsons School of Design, J. Jie Li transitioned from a successful career in fashion to fully embrace fine art. Guided by an intuitive force that feels both ancient and ineffable, her creative path has become more than expression—it is a calling. Through painting, she channels a personal and philosophical search for meaning, one shaped by the teachings of Zen Buddhism, Daoism, and Arthur Schopenhauer.

Schopenhauer’s vision of life as driven by relentless desire and inevitable suffering resonates deeply in her process. Her work strips away ornamentation to reveal the raw, often painful truths beneath. Through earth tones, fragmented forms, and light emerging from darkness, she explores the roots of human anxiety and res...

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Parsons School of Design, New York, USA

Professional Memberships

• Board Member and Signature Member, Watercolor USA Honor Society (WHS)
• Signature Member, American Artists Professional League (AAPL)

Awards and Honors (Selected)
2025 —1st Place Award winner of Alfa Awards, USA
2025 —Emerging Artist Award winner of Alfa Awards, USA
2025 —Sondra and George Juetten Award, 38th Annual Northern National Art Competition, USA
2025 — Featured in The Best Paintings 2024, Watercolor Artist Magazine, USA
2024 — Top Award, Watercolor USA 2024 (Kenneth M. Shuck Memorial $3,000 Cash Award)
2024 — Saatchi Art Featured Collection Artist
2023 — Top 10 New York Artists to Discover, Artling, Singapore
2023 — First Place, Water Media, Brownsville Museum of Fine Art, USA
2023 — Museum Award, Watercolor USA 2023 (Greg G. Thielen Memorial $2,000 Cash Award)
2023 —3rd Prize, 44th Annual Juried Exhibition, WaterWorks Art Museum, USA
2022 — Top 22 Artists to Watch, Singulart, Paris France
2022 — Winner, ARTBOXY Artist Sponsorship, Thomson Art Prize, Switzerland
2021 — Best in Show, “Adrift” National Juried Exhibition, USA
2021 — First Place winner, Lowe House Exhibition, USA
2021 — 3rd Prize, Salmagundi Club “Cityscape...

Solo Exhibitions (Selected)
2025 —Whispers Through the Veil: Reflections on the Inner Horizon, Museo de la Semana Santa de Hellin, 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, Asociacion De Artistas Cadmio, Spain
2023 — Behind the Appearance, Casa de Cultura de Caudete, Spain
2022 — Behind the Appearance, Centro Cultura Gomez Tortosa, Spain
2020 — Ignited (Two-Artist Exhibition), Ormond Memorial Art Museum, Florida, USA

Group Exhibitions (Selected)
2026
International Watercolour Masters 2026, Lilleshall Hall, Shropshire, England
2025
San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild, International Juried Exhibition
Watercolor USA 2025, Spiva Arts Center, USA
Nicoleta Gallery, Berlin, Germany
38th Annual Northern National Art Competition, USA
Thomson Gallery, Zug, Switzerland
Art Expo New York 2025
Andakulova Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2024
Watercolor Now, Downing Museum, USA
RA Summer Exhibition (Shortlisted), Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK
Metro Montage XXIV, Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, USA
Watercolor USA 2024, Springfield Art Museum, USA
International Online Spring Exhibition, San Diego Museum of ...