Han Xiao

I studied at the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University, one of China’s most prestigious institutions. After graduating in 2005, I worked in design before teaching in high school—an experience that unexpectedly rekindled my passion for painting.

In 2009, I created my debut painting, encouraged by a letter from Charles Saatchi. In 2014, I was discovered by Rebecca Wilson, Chief Curator of Saatchi Art, which became a turning point in my international exposure.

My works have since been collected by private collectors across the U.S., Taiwan, Germany, Spain, Greece, Australia, Switzerland, Canada, Portugal, Nigeria,China and Brazil—over 100 original paintings to date.

Curator Kat Henning (Saatchi Art) wrote:
“Her portraits possess an innate sense of loneliness and anxiety, reminiscent of Francis Bacon. She blurs out facial features deliberately, as if resisting identification. Her expressive, impasto brushstrokes—along with vivid blues, ochres, greens, and pinks—ignite the canvas and invite the viewer to linger.”

Through distorted, emotionally charged portraits, I explore the inner tensions of modern life—conflict, isolation, identity, and the strangeness of being human. My subjects include friends, my partner, mother...

Graduated 2005 Tsinghua University, Environmental Art Design

2014
Making faces(06.23);
One to watch(08.27)
New Portraits Collection(09.29);
2015 Saatchi Art calendar(10.01);
About a face(11.25)
the round-up of some of the most exciting works on Saatchi Art this year(12.09);
Best of 2014(12.10)
2015
Showdown Top300 (01.14)
Advanced to the Saatchi Art Showdown and are among the Top30 artists(02.06);
'Spotlight on Asia'; 'Spotlight on China(05.11);
chosen in Saatchi Art first ever printed catalogue(09.30).
2016
A day in the life(02)
20 Emerging artists collection on Saatchi Art's homepage(06.28)