J Jie Li

J. Jie Li is a New York-based contemporary fine artist whose layered watercolor and mixed-media compositions explore the spiritual landscapes of human existence—desire, loss, resilience, and the search for inner peace. After earning her BFA from Parsons School of Design, she transitioned from a successful career in fashion to fully embrace a fine art practice shaped by Zen Buddhism, Daoism, and the philosophical teachings of Arthur Schopenhauer. Stripping away ornamentation, her work transforms watercolor into a structural, high-gravity medium characterized by earthy washes and expressive calligraphic brushstrokes.

Li’s paintings have been exhibited internationally at prestigious venues, including the Royal Academy of Arts and Mall Galleries in London, as well as the Alexandria Museum of Art, Ormond Memorial Art Museum, and Springfield Art Museum in the United States. A Board and Signature Member of the Watercolor USA Honor Society, she has received top awards globally, including the 2024 Kenneth M. Shuck Memorial Cash Award and the 2025 Alfa Award. Her work is held in prominent public and private collections worldwide.

Public & Private Collections

• Consulate General of Japan
• The Holy Week Museum, Hellín, Spain
• Albacete...

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)

Solo & Two-Artist 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)

Institutional & Museum Exhibitions (Global)
• Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK — Summer Exhibition (2022 exhibited, 2019 & 2024 shortlisted)
• Springfield Art Museum / Spiva Arts Center, USA — Watercolor USA (2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
• San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild, USA — International Juried Exhibition (2022, 2024, 2025)
• Yellowstone Art Museum, USA — Annual Art Auction & Exhibition (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, USA — Metro Montage (2020, 2021, 2022, 2024)
• Mall Galleries, London, UK — Society of Women...