Born in 1982 Wuxi, Wang Mengsha grew up in an artistic family. In 2006 she graduated from the Xi’an Academy of Fine Art, having studied animation. Since then she has completed advanced studies at Griffith University, in Queensland Australia, and the University of Southampton, in the United Kingdom. After returning to China, she became a full time artist. She currently lives and works in Beijing and Wuxi.
In her unique ‘Xieyi’ style of paintings, Wang adopts a sense of humor to innovatively combine aspects of traditional paintings of court maidens and beauties with landscape paintings. Akin to the eminent artist Walasse Ting, with whom she shares a hometown, Wang is associated with bright colours and calligraphic strokes. However, as a female artist she applies a feminine perspective to examine the past and look at the future in ways that redefine contemporary ink art in history and modern culture.
Wang has been honoured with many awards, including in 2009 when the Beijing magazine Chinese Painting selected her as one of "China’s Young Artists Most Deserving of Immediate Media Attention". In 2011 Bazaar Art magazine selected her artwork as one of "The 100 Most Favourite Artworks of the Year". In 2013 the Beijing magazine National Arts awarded her the "Golden Star Prize". She was awarded the "Academic and Artistic Achievement Award: 7th Art Market Value Ranking" by Beijing Business Today and Beijing Association of Auctioneers in 2024 January in Beijing.
Alisan Fine Arts had two solo exhibitions Wang Mengsha, one in 2016 and another in 2024. Group shows include Beyond the Jade Terrace (2014), and HOPE charity exhibition (2018). Two catalogues have been published for the artist. In 2023, the images of Wang’s colourful works were seen travelling from Sheung Wan to North Point on Hong Kong’s iconic tram to promote Ink Asia, a fair dedicated to promoting ink art.
Her work has been acquired by a trustee of "The Women's Art Collection, a collection of modern and contemporary art by women artists, to be placed on loan at Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge, UK. She has exhibited at the University of Edinburgh Library, UK; Galerie 99, Germany; China Cultural Centre, Tokyo, Japan; International Art Centre, Jeju, South Korea; Today Art Museum, Beijing; Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai; College of Fine Art Nanjing Art Institute, Nanjing, China. We have also showcased her work at various international art fairs in Paris, London, and Singapore.
BIOGRAPHY
1982 Born in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China, grew up in an artistic family
2006 Graduated from Design Department, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts, Xi’an, China, studied animation
Advanced studies at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia and the University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
2020 Proya cosmetics produced an umbrella printed with Wang Mengsha's painting
Yit online shop produced a round fan embroidered with Wang Mengsha's iconic butterfly and scholar rock
2022 Speaker, Online Talk Series "What Should I Draw?", China
Collaborated with trending indigenous Chinese brand “Guan Xia '' to develop a unique packaging for new fragrance "Suzhou Sweet”
Participated "Bad Book Market'' in Guangzhou
Collaborated product titled “Bobocat x Wang Mengsha” with the online art trading platform “Rodeo Art” in mainland
Interviewed by CGTN TV programme "The Vibe", Beijing, China
2023 Workshop: Multiverse of Montage, Research Centre For Business and Arts, Peking University, Beijing, China
Present Lives and works in Beijing and Wuxi, China
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023-2024
2022
2018
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
Themes and Variations, Alisan Fine Arts-New York Gallery, New York, USA
2023
Art021, Alisan Fine Arts, Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Shanghai, China
Beyond Tradition: The Metamorphosis of Chinese Art, Alisan Fine Arts, Cromwell Place, London, UK
Ink Asia, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
Inaugural Art SG, Alisan Fine Arts, Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore
2022
2021
2020
Goose Flying: Contemporary Women Artists, Proya Qingteng Art Centre, Hangzhou, China
2019
Until the Moss Grows: Women Artists in Ink Painting, Hive Centre for Contemporary Art, Shenzhen, China
2018
SELECTED AWARDS
2009 Selected as one of China’s 10 Young Artists Most Deserving of Immediate Media Attention, Chinese Painting Magazine, Beijing, China
Awarded The Most Outstanding Young Artists in China
Selected to participate in the International Young Artists Festival, China
2011 Selected as one of The 100 Most Favourite Artworks of the Year, Bazaar Art, China
2013 Golden Star Prize, National Arts Magazine, Beijing, China
2018 Nominated China Young Artist Award, Beijing, China
2021 Top 10 Artistic Value Award, Beijing, China
2024 Academic and Artistic Achievement Award, 7th Art Market Value Ranking, Beijing Business Today and Beijing Association of Auctioneers, Beijing, China
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Trustee of "The Women's Art Collection", Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge, UK
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2011 Illusion: Wang Mengsha, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
2014 Beyond the Jade Terrace, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
2016 Wang Mengsha: Gardens, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
2022 Events in My Universe, Send Points Publishing, Guangzhou, China
