J. (Jie) Li is a contemporary artist based in New York. She is a Signature member of the Watercolor USA Honor Society and a Signature member of the American Artists Professional League. After graduating from Parsons School of Design, she worked as a Fashion designer and Consultant before returning to fine art. Since then, her works have exhibited internationally and won numerous awards. Also, her works are in several private and public collections, including Consulate General of Japan, and the Albacete Provincial Council of Spain. J. Li expresses love, hate, and desire as rooted within the depths of human nature. Such expression is achieved by overlapping figuration and abstraction in her paintings, using the natural changes and disasters that occur in her landscapes as metaphors for human emotions and sensibility. J. Li’s artistic thoughts are deeply influenced by Arthur Schopenhauer’s philosophy theory, Zen and Daoism.
J. Li primarily works with watercolor. Yet, as visible in artworks from her collections, she challenges the conventional views of this medium. In her paintings, the medium is not so transparent, not so spontaneous in some parts, and not so ‘watercolor’ anymore. The brush strokes are delicate, sensitive and sharp; the essence of Chinese calligraphy is reflected in her works. In order to strengthen the persuasiveness and appeal of the work, J. Li added mixed media on the basis of watercolor.
Most recent Awards and Exhibition
2024
- Shortlisted for RA Summer Exhibition 2024, hosted by The Royal Academy of Arts, London, United Kingdom
- Selected for Watercolor USA 2024 at the Springfield Art Museum, hosted by Watercolor USA Honor Society and Southwest Missouri Museum Associates
- Selected for the 2024 San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild International Spring Online Exhibition, US
- Andie Art Gallery, Athen,Greece
- Nicoleta Gallery, Berlin/Germany
- Andakulova Gallery, Dubai/United Arab Emirates
- Artboxy Sponsorship for SWISSARTEXPO- Winner – Zug, Switzerland
- Selected for “Yellowstone Art Auction 56” and Exhibition, hosted by Yellowstone Art Museum, US
- A live demonstration of J. (Jie) Li’s watercolor techniques hosted by the La Asunción Cultural Center, organized by the Albacete Provincial Council, located in the capital of Albacete, Spain
- Solo Exhibition ‘Behind the appearance’ hosted by the La Asunción Cultural Center, organized by the Albacete Provincial Council, located in the capital of Albacete, Spain
2023
- Selected as “Top 10 New York Artists to Discover and Invest In” by Artling, Singapore
- Water Media First Place Winner – Brownsville Museum of Fine Art’s 48th International Art Show, US
- “LUZ Y SOMBRAS” Exhibition, hosted by The Pedro Cano Foundation, Murcia, Spain
- Selected for Nicolaysen Art Museum Gala-The 38th Annual NIC Art Auction & Dinner, US
- Thomson Gallery, Zug, Switzerland
- Nicoleta Gallery, Berlin, Germany
- Cipriarte Venezia Gallery, Venezia Italy
- Casa Del Arte Palma, Palma Spain
- ArtExpo Basel, Switzerland
- Solo exhibition “Behind the Appearance”, hosted by the M.I. City Council, the Taller de Art by Caudete, the Casa de Cultura de Caudete (Albacete), Spain
- Selected for Celebrating Yellowstone Exhibition, hosted by the Yellowstone Gateway Museum, US
- Winner for the Watercolor USA 2023 museum awards (Greg G. Thielen Memorial $2,000 Cash Award)
- Selected for Watercolor USA 2023 at the Springfield Art Museum, hosted by Watercolor USA Honor Society and Southwest Missouri Museum Associates
- Solo exhibition “Behind the Appearance”, hosted by Asociacion De Artistas Cadmio, Spain
- Museo De La Feste “LUZ Y SOBRA” Muestra de Arte contemporáneo, Argemesi (Valencia), Spain
- Selected for “Yellowstone Art Auction 55” and Exhibition, hosted by Yellowstone Art Museum, US
- 3rd Prize winner of WaterWorks Art Museum 44th Annual Juried Exhibition “Devil’s in the Details”, US
- Selected for Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art’s 6th Annual National Juried Exhibition, US
2022
- Art Basel Weeks Miami / Wynwood Arts District – Miami, US
- Selected for RA Summer Exhibition 2022, hosted by The Royal Academy of Arts, London, United Kingdom
- Selected for Swiss Art Expo 2022- ArtBox / SBB Eventhalle Zürich Hauptbahnhof – Zürich, Switzerland
- Selected for the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art’s Metro Montage XXII Exhibition, US
- 2022 Biennale Artbox Expo – Venezia, Italy / Tana Art Space directly at Fondamenta de la Tana 2109A – Venice, Italy
- The May and June Exhibition at Thomson Gallery, Zug, Switzerland and the URBANSIDE Gallery, Zürich, Switzerland
- Selected for The Art of New York: Annual Juried Art Show, hosted by the Arkell Museum, US
- Selected as one of the Top 18 finalists of the Beyond Future Art Prize, Hong Kong
- Selected for Watercolor USA 2022 at the Springfield Art Museum, hosted by Watercolor USA Honor Society and Southwest Missouri Museum Associates
- Selected for The San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild 2022 International Online Spring Exhibition, US
- Selected as “Top 22 Artists to Watch in 2022” by Singulart, Paris, France
- Selected for 43rd National Juried Exhibition “Color Your Dreams”, hosted by WaterWorks Art Museum, US
- Selected for the ARTBOXY Artist Sponsorship within the Thomson Art Prize, hosted by Thomson Gallery, Switzerland
- Selected for “Yellowstone Art Auction 54” and Exhibition, hosted by Yellowstone Art Museum, US
- Solo exhibition “Behind the Appearance”, hosted by Centro Cultura Gomez Tortosa, Spain
2021
- Selected for the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art’s 5th Annual National Juried Exhibition, US
- Selected for the San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild 2021 Online International Summer Exhibition, US
- Selected for the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art’s Metro Montage XXI Exhibition, US
- Selected to be included in the Alexandria Museum of Art’s 34th September Competition Exhibition, US
- 3rd Prize winner of 2021 Salmagundi “Cityscapes” Open Exhibition, hosted by Salmagundi Art Club, New York, US
- Selected for The Art of New York: Annual Juried Art Show, hosted by the Arkell Museum, US
- Selected for Watercolor USA 2021 at the Springfield Art Museum, hosted by Watercolor USA Honor Society and Southwest Missouri Museum Associates
- Best in Show winner for National Juried Exhibition, “Adrift”, hosted by Main Street Arts Gallery, New York, US
- Selected for American Artist Professional League Members Show “Explore”, US (Due to Covid 19 situation showing online only)
- Selected for “Yellowstone Art Auction 53” and Exhibition, hosted by Yellowstone Art Museum, US
2020
- First place winner and Second place winner of “Art of Innovation Art Contest”, US
- Selected for the 4th Annual National Juried Exhibition, hosted by Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, US (Due to Covid 19 situation not be showing at the Museum, showing online only)
- Selected for Society of Women Artists 159th Open Exhibition, UK (Due to Covid 19 situation not be showing at the Mall Galleries, showing online only)
- Winner of the Public Choice Art Prize in Uig Open 2020, hosted by Hulabhaig Gallery, UK
- First place winner of “Lowe House Exhibition”, hosted by Maryland Federation of Art, US
- Selected in a two-artist exhibition ‘Ignited’ hosted by Ormond Memorial Art Museum, Florida, US
- Selected for the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art’s Metro Montage XX Exhibition, US
- Selected for Watercolor USA 2020 at the Springfield Art Museum, hosted by Watercolor USA Honor Society and Southwest Missouri Museum Associates
- Selected for National Open Juried Exhibition 2020, hosted by The Providence Art Club, Rhode Island, US
- Selected for the American Landscapes 2020 Exhibition in Maryland Federation of Art, Circle Gallery, US
- Selected for the American Artists Professional League Member Show “Favorite Things”, US
- Selected for Maryland Federation of Art “Summer Member Show” in Circle Gallery, US
- Published in February/March issue of the British Art & Culture magazine “Aesthetica” (Issue 93)
- Invited for “Sprawling Visions” 2020 exhibition, Main Street Arts Gallery, New York, US
2019
- Selected for the London Group Open 2019; juried by Parker Harris the Selection Committee, London, UK
- Selected to be included in the Alexandria Museum of Art’s 32nd September Competition Exhibition, US
- Selected for the Royal West England Academy 167 Annual Open Exhibition, UK
- Selected for New English Art Annual Exhibition 2019 in Mall Galleries, London, UK
- Shortlisted and for Royal Academy of Arts 250th Summer Exhibition 2019, London, UK
- Selected for the American Artists Professional League ‘91th Grand National Exhibit’ at the Salmagundi Club, New York, US
- Selected for the American Landscapes 2019 Exhibition in Maryland Federation of Art, Circle Gallery, US
- Invited to act as a member of the jury panel at Jumbish World Art Competition 3.0, India
- Guest artist demo for the Master Master Class of V International Biennale 2019, Caudete, Spain
- Selected as winner with the opportunity of International Artist Residency Programme in Shanghai, China provided by ‘Sunny Art Prize’ Sunny Art Centre, London, UK, and Harmony Art Gallery, Shanghai, China
- Selected to showcase the shortlisted works in Harmony Art Gallery, Shanghai, China by the curatorial team of Sunny Art Prize, London, UK
- Selected as the winner of Semi-Honorable mention of Olympia International Open Art Competition 2019, Japan
- Selected for Ann Metzger National Biennial Exhibition at St. Louis Artists Gulid, US
- Selected for the 40th Annual Paper In Particular National Exhibition in the Sidney Larson Gallery, Columbia College, US
2018
- Received the honor of Fellow in the American Artists Professional League, US
- Selected for the American Artists Professional League ‘90th Grand National Exhibit’ at the Salmagundi Club, New York, US
- Selected by HSBC as a nominated artist for HSBC Cares, US
- Selected for Wells Art Contemporary Art Awards 2018 International Juried Exhibition hosted by Parker Harris, UK
- Selected for Sunny Art Prize 2018 International Juried Exhibition at Sunny Art Centre, London, UK, juried by Professional Consulting Panel
- Selected for The Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s 39th Annual International Juried Exhibition, US
- Selected for Watercolor USA 2018 at the Springfield Art Museum, provided by Watercolor USA Honor Society and Southwest Missouri Museum Associates, US
- Selected for exhibition in AD ART SHOW at SOTHEBY’s NYC, US
- Selected as Honorable Mention award winner for National Juried Exhibition ‘Land and Sea’ at Main Street Arts Gallery, NY, US
- Selected for GoggleWorks 12th Annual Juried Exhibition at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, US
- Selected for the Piece of Paper Juried Exhibition at St. Louis Artists Guild, US
- Selected for 2018 Waterloo Arts Fest Juried Exhibition, US
- Selected for the StartUp Auction at Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery, New York, US
- Exhibited for the American Artists Professional League Members Only Show “Celebrating the Spirit of America” at the Salmagundi Club, New York, US
- Selected as a Winner in the 1st 2018 Artlant Prize Showcase competition
- Selected for the Mid Atlantic New Painting 2018 in Ridderhof Martin Gallery, University of Mary Washington, VA, US
- Selected for the Valdosta National 2018 Exhibition in Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery, Valdosta State University, GA, US
- Selected for the 39th Annual Paper In Particular National Exhibition in the Sidney Larson Gallery, Columbia College, US