Born in 1955 in Chongqing, China, Xu Bing’s artistic journey began. Raised in Beijing, he embarked on his creative education by enrolling in the Printmaking Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing in 1977. By 1981, he had completed his studies and later became a part of the faculty. In 1987, he furthered his academic pursuits, obtaining a master’s degree from the same institution.
Xu Bing’s talent led him to the United States in 1990, where he was honored as an honorary artist, acknowledging his remarkable accomplishments. His impactful career continued as he returned to China in 2007, taking up significant roles at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, including Vice President, professor, and supervisor of doctoral students. Leading the institution’s Academic Committee since 2014, he now divides his time between Beijing and New York, where he resides and creates.
Internationally recognized, Xu Bing’s artwork has graced renowned venues across the globe, from the Museum of Modern Art to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Guggenheim Museum, the Sackler National Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the British Museum. His pieces have also been showcased at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Museo Reina Sofia, and the Joan Miró Foundation. Notable participations in global exhibitions include the Venice Biennale, Sydney Biennale, São Paulo Biennale, and Johannesburg Biennale.
Xu Bing’s contributions extend beyond exhibitions, finding their way into art history textbooks like “Art Past, Art Present” and “Gardner’s Art Through the Ages: A Global History.” His accolades are a testament to his influence—recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship in 1999, the 14th Fukuoka Asian Cultural Award in 2003, and the first Artes Mundi Prize in 2004. Not to mention, he received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Columbia University in 2010 and the Andrew D. White Professor-at-Large title from Cornell University in 2015. His journey also took him to win the Medal of Arts from the U.S. Department of State, showcasing his profound impact on the world of art.
