Liu Baojun
China, 1963
Artist's works
Artist Profile
Pipe-Smoking Woman, No. 106
Pipe-Smoking Woman, No. 122
Pipe-Smoking Woman, No. 130
Pipe-Smoking Woman, No. 131
Pipe-Smoking Woman, No. 132
Pipe-Smoking Woman, No. 133
Pipe-Smoking Woman, No. 134
Pipe-Smoking Woman, No. 139
Introduction and Experience
Liu Baojun (b. 1963, Liaoning, China) is a self-taught artist whose career reached a turning point in 2003 after relocating to Shanghai. He has since established himself as a pivotal figure in contemporary Chinese painting, most notably through his iconic Pipe-Smoking Women series, which is highly sought after by international collectors.
Liu’s works are characterized by sumptuous textures and a masterful command of color and light. His figures—often seated, reclining, or lost in quiet contemplation—evoke an atmosphere of effortless leisure. While grounded in classical realism, his compositions possess a vibrant vitality that skillfully bridges traditional Chinese spirit with contemporary sensibility.
Drawing from his love for literature, music, and his hobby of collecting pipes, Liu challenges modern aesthetic standards that equate beauty with thinness. His portrayals of full-bodied, languid women reveal a profound beauty beyond conventional ideals. Through Western oil techniques infused with a classical sensibility, Liu has developed a deeply personal style that is both narratively rich and visually enduring.
Exhibitions and Awards
Selected Exhibitions
Solo Exhibition
2014
Elegant Postures —Solo Exhibition, X-Power Gallery, Shanghai, China (represented by X-Power Gallery)
2008
Liu Baojun Solo Exhibition—Yi-Jie Art, Shanghai, China
2006
Liu Baojun Solo Exhibition—Shanghai Yibao Gallery, Shanghai, China
2004
Liu Baojun Solo Exhibition—Shanghai Concert Hall, Shanghai, China
Liu Baojun Solo Exhibition—Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Shanghai, China
Group Exhibition
2011 - 2025
A.R.T. Art Revolution Taipei—Taipei World Trade Center, Taipei, Taiwan (represented by X-Power Gallery)
2016
7 Fairies vs. Chubby Women—X-Power Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan (represented by X-Power Gallery)
2014
Asia Hotel Art Fair Hong Kong 2014 (AHAF Hong Kong)—Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel, Hong Kong (represented by X-Power Gallery)
2012
Emerging Talents • Rising Artists Group Exhibition—X-Power Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan (represented by X-Power Gallery)
2011
Shining in Two Cities Art Exhibition—New York and Los Angeles, the USA
Contemporary Art Group Exhibition—X-Power Gallery, Shanghai, China (represented by X-Power Gallery)
Cross-Strait Artists Group Exhibition—X-Power Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan (represented by X-Power Gallery)
2008
2008 Shanghai Spring Art Salon—Shanghai Agricultural Exhibition Center, Shanghai, China
2007
New Talents in Contemporary Oil Painting—Group Exhibition, Shanghai Yibao Gallery, Shanghai, China
Five Chinese and Russian Artists Group Exhibition—Russia
2006
Group Exhibition—APL Gallery, New York, the USA
Group Exhibition—Hong Kong Gallery, Hong Kong
2006 Shanghai Spring Art Salon—Shanghai Agricultural Exhibition Center, Shanghai, China
Group Exhibition—Yibo Gallery, Shanghai, China
Group Exhibition—Taiwan
2005
Group Exhibition—New Red Gate Gallery, Shanghai, China
Group Exhibition—New York, the USA
Shanghai Art Fair 2005—Shanghai Mart, Shanghai, China
2004
Shanghai Art Fair 2004—Shanghai Mart, Shanghai, China
Awards
2013
Selected, Worcester Open 2013, UK
Selected, Compass Juried Exhibition, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (OCCCA), California, USA
2012
Winner, Gallery Exhibition Prize, 6th International Prize Arte Laguna, Venice, Italy
2011
Selected Artist, 159th Autumn Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy (RWA), UK
Selected Artist, Annual Exhibition, Royal Society of British Artists (RBA), UK
Selected Artist, Annual Exhibition,Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI), the UK
Collections
The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, the USA
Private Collection—Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, and USA