Yi Kai

Yi Kai
Born in Changsha (1955), China, Yi Kai showed an affinity for art and drawing at an early age. But at 15, after completing middle school, he was drafted into the People’s Army in 1970 at the height of the Cultural Revolution. For 9 years he spent the remainder
of his youth building railways in the countryside and creating art propaganda for the People’s Republic. In 1979 Yi Kai joined a pool of 4000 hopeful applicants, hoping to be one of the 35 students chosen to attend the Art Institute of the Army of China in Beijing.
Not only did he get accepted but was ranked as the top applicant for his admission year. After 4 years of study, Yi Kai earned his BFA in traditional Chinese painting and stayed on at the institute for 2 years as an instructor. Though trained as a traditional artist, as China opened to the West in the late 1970’s and early 80’s, he became influenced by Western, and particularly American culture, that would become a hallmark of his future works. In 1985, Yi Kai returned to
school earning his Masters in Fine Art from the Central University for Nationalities in Beijing. But shortly thereafter, a tide of change would sweep through China and change Yi Kai’s life in a dramatic turn. In the midst of a growing c...

2018 – 2019 Modern Art History, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA
2006 Certificate Modern Art History, Otis Art College, Los Angeles
1985 – 1988 M.F.A., University of Nationalities of China, Beijing B.F. A.,
1979 – 1983 Art Institute of the People’s Liberation Army of China, Beijing

Group Exhibitions

2021 Chan Gallery, Pomona College, Claremont, CA
2018 Thriving Artist Community Exhibition, Sam Maloof Art Museum, CA
2018 Art Museum of Tianjin Academy of Fine Art, P.R of China
Three man show in Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
2015 Alisan Fine Arts 35 years group show, Hong Kong
2012 Los Angeles International Art Expo, Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco International Art Expo, San Francisco, CA
George Cuttress Fine Arts, CA
University of St Thomas Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2011 Faster Gallery, University of Wisconsin, WI
CCAA Museum of Art, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Koehler Gallery, CA
2010 OCCOA Gallery, Orange County, CA
2007 Brand 36 works on paper, Glendale, CA
2005 Powers Gallery, Acton, MA
2004 Powers Gallery, Acton, MA
2003 New American Drawing 2003”, Santa Fe, NM
2002 Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND

Solo Exhibitions

2020 The Progress Gallery, CA
2015 Claremont Graduate University Gallery, Claremont, CA
53 Art Museum, Guangzhou, China
Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
2014 Museum of Art and History, Lancaster, CA
2004 DeCordova Museum of Arts, Lincoln, MA ...