Lok Yitong

1960, Beijing, China

Introduction

Born in Beijing in 1960, Chinese-Canadian artist Lok Yitong began under the tutelage of his renowned painter father, Lok Tok (1928-2012), and other Chinese art masters such as Wu Zuoren (1908-1997) and Li Ruinian (1910-1985). From 1978 to 1981, he studied fine arts at the Capital Normal University in Beijing before venturing abroad. The diverse education through Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver, the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, Canada, and the British Institute in Florence, Italy honed Lok’ skills in both oil and ink painting, and fostered a unique fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetics in his work. In 2005, the Premier of Ontario commissioned Lok to paint a portrait of Dr. Norman Bethune (a Canadian thoracic surgeon, 1890-1939). Reproductions of this painting have since become commemorative gifts presented by the Canadian government to the Chinese government.

Lok has extensively exhibited, lectured and demonstrated in institutions in Canada and USA, including the University of British Columbia in Vancouver; University of Toronto, York University, Toronto, Canada; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Duluth Art Institute, Minnesota, USA. He has also showcased his work at Omega College and Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. In recent years, he has exhibited at the 20th International Calligraphy Art and Culture Exhibition in Seoul; China National Art Museum in Beijing, Poly Auction Beijing, and Christie's Hong Kong. The art fairs he has participated in include Art Palm Beach, Art Chicago, Art Basel Miami, Art Toronto, and Fine Art Asia in Hong Kong.

Alisan Fine Arts introduces Lok Yitong's ink paintings for the first time in 2024 summer exhibition Themes and Variations at New York Gallery.

His works have been collected by the Royal Ontario Museum, the University of Toronto, the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, the Ontario Legislative Building, and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.


BIOGRAPHY
1960   Born in Beijing, China, his father, Lok Tok (1928-2012), was a renowned painter 
1960s-1977   Learned traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy from masters Wu Zuoren (1908-1997), Li Ruinian (1910-1985) and Xiao ShuFang (1911-2005)
1978-1981   Studied fine arts at Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
1982-1984   Emily Carr College of Art and Design, Vancouver, Canada
1984-1986   Ontario College of Art, Toronto, Canada
1986-1987   British Institute, Florence, Italy
1993   Listed in Artists of Chinese Origin in North America Directory, West Point Gallery, Westmont, USA
1995   Listed in The Dictionary of The Achievements of World Chinese Artists
1999   Commissioned by Chinese Culture Centre for Greater Toronto, Toronto, Canada
1990s-2000s   Taught, demonstrated and lectured in Canada, USA, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and other places, such as University of British Columbia, Vancouver; University of Toronto; York University, Toronto, Canada; University of Minnesota; Minneapolis Institute of Arts; Duluth Art Institute, Minnesota; Omega Institute; Rochester Institute of Technology; Hobart and William Smith Colleges, New York, USA
2003   Painting Juror for the Sumi-e Society of America’s 40th Anniversary Exhibition, Maryland, USA
2005   Commissioned by Premier of Ontario to paint a portrait of Dr. Norman Bethune (Canadian thoracic surgeon, 1890-1939). Reproductions of this painting have since become commemorative gifts presented by  Canadian government to Chinese government
2008   Listed in Works by One Hundred North American Chinese Painters and Calligraphers
Present   Lives and works in Toronto, Canada

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

1994

  • Centripetal / Centrifugal, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

1992

  • East Meet West, Art Beatus, Hong Kong

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024

2014

  • Teaching, Learning, Artistry, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
  • Oneness: Father and Son Exhibition, Poly Art Museum, Beijing, China

2013

  • Chinese Contemporary Ink, Christie’s, Hong Kong

2010

  • China Guardian, Beijing, China

2003

  • Art Toronto, Toronto, Canada
  • Fundraising Exhibition for Canadian government's Contemporary Art Exhibition Hall, Toronto, Canada
  • In My Solitude, Gallery Neubacher, Toronto, Canada

2002

  • Canadian Royal Winter Fair: Year of the Horse Special Exhibition, Tanbark Club, National Exhibition Centre, Toronto, Canada

2001

  • Art Palm Beach, Palm Beach Convention Centre, West Palm Beach, USA
  • Art Chicago, Navy Pier, Chicago, USA
  • Art Basel Miami, Miami Beach Convention Centre, Miami Beach, USA

1996

  • The OH! Canada Project: Art for a Nation, in conjunction with National Gallery of Canada & Art Gallery of Ontario, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada

1993

  • Father & Son, sponsored by Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, Commission for Canada, Urban Council of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Hong Kong

1992

  • Art Asia, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong


SELECTED AWARDS
1992   First Prize, University of Toronto Arts Open Competition, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, Scarborough, Canada
Ontario Legislative Building, Toronto, Canada
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Toronto, Canada

SELECTED PUBLICATION
2014   The Oneness: Lok Tok & Lok Yitong, China Bookstore, Beijing, China
1992   A World Through Splash Ink, Lok Tok Art Studio, New York, USA