Zhao Kailin (born 1961) portrait titled "Rong". Dated 2011. Signed and dated lower right front in Chinese and English. Excellent condition. Painting: 40x35 inches. Framed: 47x42 inches.

Zhao KailinA modern master of realism, Zhao Kailin is a rare and widely admired talent in the contemporary portrait scene. Born in 1961 in Bengbu, China, Zhao was drawn to art very early, now giving credit to his second grade teacher for recognizing and encouraging his early attraction to the arts. With his teacher’s encouragement and teachings of basic painting skills, young Zhao was soon exhibiting work in children’s juried shows. When his primary studies were complete, Zhao was accepted into Beijing’s Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1988- into the country’s most esteemed oil painting department. His graduate studies at the academy introduced Zhao to renowned Renaissance painters, Rembrandt and Carravagio, and he was especially inspired by John Singer Sargent’s provocative portrait entitled “Madame X”. These influences helped shape the style of portraiture Zhao would become famous for, combining masterful manipulation of light and textures with the repeated subject of young female figures resting dangerously on the cusp of womanhood. Most of his subjects are Asian females in traditional Chinese wear, alone in a beautifully lit surrounding, and holding a fan or, more recently, a musical instrument, allowing for easy display of delicate, long white fingers of the subjects. This along with an often direct, imploring forward gaze from large eyes make his canvases appear alive and most enchanting. Immediately after graduating in 1991, Zhao signed a contract with Kurt Svenccons and lived in Stockholm, Sweden, from 1992-1994, holding personal oil painting exhibitions which were well received by private collectors- particularly soliciting quite a response with his 1994 exhibit, Zhao Kailin’s Realism Oil Painting across Northern Europe Region. This success was quickly followed by a win in Tokyo, Japan, where his oil painting, “Lake”, took 2nd prize at Asian Art Exhibition. The following year, Zhao participated in Asian Art Show in Hong Kong, and had pieces “The Song of May” and “Xiao Xiao at Studio” enter Christie’s Spring Auction in London and Hong Kong. The American West and East Coast Culture Foundation invited Zhao to Los Angeles, California, for an exhibition in 1997. From 1998-1999, he traveled and received praise for exhibitions in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Chicago. By 2000 his art was also exhibited at Utopia Gallery, North Queensland (Cairns, Australia) and at the International Art Toronto Show in Canada. The next year he made it to Naples, Italy, for International Art Celebration and in 2002 reached Spain and Scotland. Though he officially moved to Los Angeles in 2003 (and became a member of the Portrait Society of America), he has continued to travel the globe exhibiting his prolific body of work, gaining new fans with every show. His works have been published in art magazines across America, Europe and Asia, including the publications Art News, Art Asia Pacific, Art Collector, and Art & Antiques. Publications: New Realism Paintings, Zhao Kailin - 2000 (Beijing, China)Chinese Power Painter, Zhao Kailin - 2006 (Tianjin, China)Overseas Chinese Oil Painting Artist, Zhao Kailin - 2011 (Jilin, China) Exhibitions: 1992 (June) - From the East, 1st Solo Exhibition, Stockholm, Sweden1993 - Zhao Kailin’s New Realism Oil Painting, Stockholm, Sweden1994 - Zhao Kailin’s Realism Oil Painting Across Northern Europe Stockholm Sweden1994 - “Lake” wins 2nd Place at Asian Art Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan1995 - Asian Art Show, Hong Kong1995 - “The Song of May” in Christie’s London Spring Auction1995 - “Xiao Xiao at Studio” in Christie’s Hong Kong Spring Auction1995 (October) - “The Girl with Fan” at International Art Fair, Beijing, China1997 - American Western Coast and Eastern Culture, Los Angeles, US1998 - Out of China, Odon Wagner Gallery, Toronto, Canada1998-99 - Exhibited in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Singapore. 1999 - Art Chicago, US2000 - New Journey Beyond the Silk Road, Utopia Gallery, Cairns, Australia2000 - Art Toronto, Canada2001 - International Art Fair at London, UK2001 - International Art Celebration, Naples, Italy2002 - Portrait of an Asian Artist, Seville, Spain2002 - The Kail Studio Artists Group Show, Perth and London, UK2003 - Art London, London, UK2004 - The Kail Studio Artist Group Show, Gallery 27, London, UK2005 - Art Miami, Miami, US2006 - Los Angeles Art Show, Los Angeles, US2006 - Zhao Kailin’s Realism Oil Painting Exhibition at Contemporary Chinese Fine Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, California, US2007 - Art London, London, UK2007 - Love without Boundaries Foundation commissioned portrait2008 - Los Angeles Art Show, Los Angeles, US2009 - Art Miami, Miami, US2010 - The Arts 2010 Art Space Exhibition, Eli Klein Fine Art, New York, US2010 - Shanghai Art Fair International Contemporary, Shanghai, China2010 - Art London, London, UK2010 - Art Miami, Miami, US2010 - Out of China, (three artists group exhibit) Odon Wagner Gallery, Toronto, Canada2011 - Royal Academy of Art, London, UK2011 - Art Asia, Miami, US2012 - Lapada Art and Antique Art Fair, London, UK2012 - Masterpiece, London, UK2012 - Art Hamptons, Bridgehampton, New York, US2012 - Art Asia, Miami, US2013 - The 9th Asia Hotel Art Fair2013 - Art Monaco, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco2013 - Lapada Art and Antique Art Fair, London, UK2013 - Art Miami, Miami, US2014 - LA Art Show, US2014 - American International Fine Art Fair, Palm Beach, FL, US2014 - Palm Beach Jewelry, Arts & Antique Show, Palm Beach, FL, US2014 - Chicago Art Show, IL, US2014 - Asia Contemporary Art Show, Hong Kong2014 - Baltimore Art Show, Baltimore, US2014 - Asia Art Fair, New York, US2014 - Lapada Art and Antique Fair, London, UK2014 - Fine Art Asia, Hong Kong2014 - Art Miami, Miami, FL, US

Excellent