Ai Xuan is a Chinese painter acclaimed for his atmospheric, often melancholic depictions of Tibet and its people. Born in Jinhua in 1947, he studied at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. He is the son of renowned poet Ai Qing and half-brother of artist Ai Weiwei, yet his artistic voice is entirely his own.
Child in Tibetan Landscape.
Quiet Portraits of a Vanishing World
Ai Xuan’s paintings portray Tibetan figures in vast, desolate landscapes – faces turned to the wind, wrapped in heavy garments, their expressions stoic yet soulful. His hyperrealist technique captures not just likeness but spirit, often framed in fog or fading light. The result is a haunting visual poetry rooted in empathy and reverence.
Recognition in China and Beyond
A member of the China Artists Association, Ai Xuan has received several national awards and exhibited internationally. His works resonate deeply in China’s cultural discourse, bridging realism with romantic nostalgia. Collectors value his ability to render inner worlds through external stillness.