Zi Ling

Born in 1985 in Huangshan, China, Zi Ling is a visual artist who resides in both Beijing and London, specialising in watercolour portraits and surreal sketches.

A Multidisciplinary Education

Zi is the daughter of the Chinese painter Huitao Ling, a pioneer of the 85 New Wave Movement, who taught her how to draw at four years old. She then studied at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, China, where she graduated with a BA in Fine Arts. She moved to London to pursue further study, achieving her MA in Fine Arts with Distinction at the Chelsea College of Arts in 2013.

Surreal Watercolours

Zi Ling works in a variety of media, experimenting with watercolour painting, etching, and short films. Her principal focus remains her distinctive watercolour portraits and surreal drawings, which are characterised by their bold and vibrant colours. Zi takes inspiration from surrealist poetry, music and photography; her interest is in depicting human nature and relationships.

A Celebrated Portraitist

Zi Ling has exhibited extensively in the UK and in her native China, where her work features in the permanent collection of the National Art Museum of China. She has exhibited with the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours and Royal West of England Academy in the UK, and has won numerous prizes for her watercolours. Recently, she has been selected as the candidate member of the Royal Institute.

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