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PORTRAIT

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Gaia III, 56x78 inches, oil-painting & Acrylic, 2017

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Gaia I, 56x78 inches, oil-painting & Acrylic, 2017

Win 2017 MFA Graduate Award

• The handmade printmaking version Win Ward H. and Cora E. Nay Director's Purchase Prize and Southwest Michigan Printmakers Excellence in Printmaking Award

• The handmade printmaking version Win Honorable Mention from 2018 West Michigan Art Competition 

The Gaia Series explores the devastating impact of humanity’s overconsumption of natural resources, presenting a powerful visual narrative of our fractured relationship with the natural world. The central figure in each painting represents humanity, whose inflated ambitions and insatiable material desires are symbolized through corpulent, grotesque bodies. Within these figures, nature resides, confined and exploited—a poignant reminder of humanity's dependency on the environment. As the figure devours natural resources, the resulting destruction leads to irreversible harm, not only to the planet but also to humanity itself.

Gaia II, 56x78 inches, oil-painting & Acrylic, 2017

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Oriental Expression Series, 36x80 inch, Watercolor, 2014

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Oriental Expression series, 20x20 inch, Watercolor, 2014

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Oriental Expression series, 20x20 inch, Watercolor, 2014, Collected by private

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Oriental Expression Series, 36x80 inch, Watercolor, 2014

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Oriental Expression Series, 36x80 inch, Watercolor, 2014

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Oriental Expression Series, 36x80 inch, Watercolor, 2014,
Collected by private

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Portrait demonstration, 24x20 inch, Oil painting, 2015

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Figure demonstration, 34x26 inch,
Oil painting, 2015

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Portrait demonstration, 20x26 inch, Oil, 2015

Portrait demonstration, 20x26 inch, Oil, 2015

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Portrait demonstration, 20x26 inch, Oil, 2015

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Class demonstration, 40x34 inch, Oil, 2010

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Oriental Expression Series, 36x80 inch, Watercolor, 2014

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Oriental Expression Series, 36x80 inch, Watercolor, 2014

Oriental Expression Series, 36x80 inch, Watercolor, 2014

Oriental Expression Series, 36x80 inch, Watercolor, 2014

FRESCO

I spent six weeks in Florence, Italy, studying at the Studio Art Centers International (SACI), where I immersed myself in the art of fresco painting and the rich history of Renaissance art. During this time, I honed traditional techniques, including preparing lime plaster, creating detailed cartoons (preliminary drawings), and applying pigments with water on wet plaster. My hands-on practice was enhanced by an in-depth exploration of the Renaissance era, examining the masterpieces of Giotto, Masaccio, and Michelangelo. I also delved into the historical and cultural significance of Florentine art, admired architectural landmarks like the Duomo, and studied the transformative influence of patronage by families such as the Medici. Visits to renowned institutions like the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia, as well as local workshops, further deepened my appreciation and understanding of this enduring artistic tradition.

©2024 by Leilei Chen

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