Title

Tenured Professor

Education Background

Graduated from the Central Academy of Arts & Design (now Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University) with a Bachelor’s degree in Decorative Painting in July 1986

Work Experience

Began working as a teacher at the university in 1986, currently serving as a professor at the Department of Art and Crafts, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

Social Services

Visiting Professor at Shanghai Art & Design Academy

Deputy Director of the Lacquer Painting Art Committee, China Artists Association

Vice President of the Xihu International Artists Association

Managing Director of the Lacquer Art Committee, China National Arts & Crafts Society

Research Interests

Research on the Artistic Language of Painting and Lacquer Painting

Academic Achievements

Solo Exhibitions

1992, Cheng Xiangjun Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Central Academy of Arts & Design (now Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University), Beijing

1995, Cheng Xiangjun Lacquer Painting Exhibition, National Art Museum of China, Beijing

1997, Cheng Xiangjun Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Beijing

1998, Thin Clouds • Cheng Xiangjun Painting Exhibition, National Art Museum of China, Beijing

2000, New Vision - Cheng Xiangjun Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Wan Fung Art Gallery, Huangshicheng (Imperial Archives), Beijing

2002, Traditional Tradition - Cheng Xiangjun Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Gallery of the Department of Art and Crafts, Tsinghua University, Beijing

2008, Return - Cheng Xiangjun Lacquer Painting Exhibition, 798 Millennium Gallery, Beijing

2008, Lotus - Cheng Xiangjun Oil Painting Exhibition, 798 Shangtu Contemporary Art Gallery, Beijing

2009, Return - Cheng Xiangjun Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Moganshan Two Cities Gallery, Shanghai

2009, Imaging - Cheng Xiangjun Lacquer Painting Exhibition, 798 Millennium Gallery, Beijing

2012, Babel of the Heart - Cheng Xiangjun Painting Exhibition Tour, Zhejiang Art Museum, Hangzhou

2013, Babel of the Heart - Cheng Xiangjun Painting Exhibition Tour, Henan Art Museum, Zhengzhou

2013, Babel of the Heart - Cheng Xiangjun Painting Exhibition Tour, Fujian Art Museum, Fuzhou

2013, Babel of the Heart - Cheng Xiangjun Painting Exhibition Tour, Xiamen Art Museum, Xiamen

2014, Spring and Autumn - A Retrospective Exhibition of Cheng Xiangjun’s Oil Painting Works, Fujian Art Museum, Fuzhou

2014, Spring and Autumn - A Retrospective Exhibition of Cheng Xiangjun’s Oil Painting Works, Ningde Branch of Fujian Art Museum, Fujian

2014, A Retrospective Exhibition of Cheng Xiangjun’s Oil Painting Works, Art Museum of Fuzhou University of International Studies and Trade, Changle, Fujian

2014, Babel of the Heart - Cheng Xiangjun Painting Exhibition Tour, Zhongshan Art Museum, Dalian

2015, Artistic Impression - Freedom: Cheng Xiangjun Art Exhibition, Beijing Jinfu Art Center

2016, Image • Natural Cheng Xiangjun Painting Exhibition, Qiao Shiguang Art Museum, Guangzhou

2016, Source • Cheng Xiangjun Solo Exhibition, Water Cube E Art Museum, Beijing

2016, Source • Cheng Xiangjun Solo Exhibition, Ningbo Art Museum

2017, Source • Cheng Xiangjun Solo Exhibition, SPSI Art Museum, Shanghai

2017, Source • Cheng Xiangjun Solo Exhibition, Shenzhen Art Museum

2017, Solo Exhibition at Art Gallery of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

2017, Solo Exhibition at Zhongshan Art Museum, Dalian

2018, Reflection - Cheng Xiangjun Solo Exhibition, Seattle WASA International Art Center

2019, Embracing the Wind • Cheng Xiangjun Painting Exhibition, Changshu Art Museum

2020, Cheng Xiangjun Oil Painting Exhibition, at Exhibition Hall 46, 1850 Creative Park, Liwan District, Guangzhou; Jiangmen Art Museum; Sunshine International Art Museum, Songzhuang, Beijing; NIU Art Space, Shicaotang Art Park, Shijiazhuang; and Cui Zhenkuan Art Museum, Xi’an

Exhibitions

1986, Chinese Modern Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Beijing

1989, The 7th National Exhibition of Fine Arts, Beijing

1995, The Exhibition of Outstanding Works at the 8th National Exhibition of Fine Arts, Beijing

2002, The First China Young Painters Nomination Exhibition, Guangzhou

2004, Art Literature Nomination Exhibition, Wuhan

2004, Exhibition of Lacquer Paintings at the 10th National Exhibition of Fine Arts, Nanjing

2005, China Lacquer Painting Biennale, Xiamen

2006, International Craft Biennale, Busan, South Korea

2007, National Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Guangzhou

2007, The Second China Lacquer Painting Biennale, Xiamen

2009, Exhibition of Lacquer Paintings at the 11th National Exhibition of Fine Arts, Xiamen

2009, Report to the Motherland – Art Achievement Exhibition in Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China, National Art Museum of China, Beijing

2009, Joint Handicraft Exhibition of Five Colleges and Universities in China, Jinan

2009, “City” - Irish-Chinese Contemporary Art Exhibition, Beijing

2010, Chinese Contemporary Abstract Painting Exhibition, Chongqing

2011, “Resonance” An Exhibition of Paintings by Zhang Ding and Fellow Artists, National Centre for the Performing Arts, Art Gallery of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing

2011, The Third China Lacquer Painting Biennale, Xiamen

2012, Joint Handicraft Exhibition of Five Colleges and Universities in China, Suzhou

2012, 2012 International Lacquer Painting Exhibition & International Lacquer Art Seminar, Daegu Designers’ House, South Korea

2012, Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit - Harmony • International Artist Painting Exhibition, Great Hall of the People, Beijing

2012, China National Academy of Painting “Art Classics” Exhibition, Songzhuang Art Museum, Beijing

2013, The 3rd National Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts, Nanjing

2013, Bishkek Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit International Artist Painting Exhibition, Kyrgyzstan

2013, 1895 Chinese Contemporary Arts and Crafts Series Exhibition • Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Nantong

2013, China-South Korea Modern Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Seoul, South Korea

2014, Cross-Strait Lacquer Arts Exhibition of the National Art Museum of China

2014, Exhibition of Lacquer Paintings at the 12th National Exhibition of Fine Arts, Fuzhou

2015, Exhibition of Teachers’ Works at Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, Beijing

2015, China-South Korea Artworks Exchange Exhibition, Guangxi Arts University, Nanjing

2015, Chinese Contemporary Painting Exhibition, Mongolian National Modern Art Gallery, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

2015, “The Depth of Lacquer” 2015 Chinese and Foreign Lacquer Art Exchange and Research Exhibition, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts

2015, The 5th China Lacquer Painting Biennale, Xiamen

2016, Qiao Shiguang Lacquer Painting Art Innovation Award Jury Exhibition, Qiao Shiguang Art Museum, Guangzhou

2016, China Lacquer Painting Documentation Exhibition, Jiangsu Federation of Literary and Art Circles and Jiangsu Modern Art Museum, Nanjing; exhibition tour in Ningbo, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Chongqing, Shanxi, and Beijing

2016, Cycle of Time, 2016 Hubei International Triennial of Lacquer Art, Hubei Art Mesum

2016, 2016 Fuzhou International Triennial of Lacquer Art, Fuzhou

2016, Lacquer • Intention: 2016 Hubei Lacquer Art Invitational Exhibition, Art Museum of Hubei Provincial Academy of Fine Arts

2016, The 4th China Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Jiangxi Art Museum

2020, Exhibition of Renowned Chinese Contemporary Lacquer Painters in Spain: Returning Report (Fuzhou Shen Shaoan Lacquer Art Museum)

2020, Love is Boundless - The Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Art Masters

Awards

1986, Chinese Modern Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Outstanding Works Award

1989, The 7th National Exhibition of Fine Arts, Bronze Award

1995, The 8th National Exhibition of Fine Arts, Excellence Award

2001, Art International Expo Beijing, Outstanding Works Award

2001, Art and Science International Exhibition, Award Nomination

2004, Art Literature Nomination Exhibition, Award Nomination

2001, Joint Handicraft Exhibition of Five Colleges and Universities in China, Outstanding Works Award

2012, Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit - Harmony • International Artist Painting Exhibition, Outstanding Works Award

2020, Harmony • Hangzhou International Artist Painting Exhibition, Outstanding Works Award

Main Publications and Exhibition Judge

1993, A Collection of Lacquer Paintings by Cheng Xiangjun, People’s Fine Arts Publishing House

1996, The Complete Collection of Chinese Modern Art: Lacquer Painting Volume, People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, Associate Editor-in-chief

2008, Lacquer Painting Technique, People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, Editor-in-chief

2009, A Collection of Fine Chinese Lacquer Paintings, Tianjin People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Editor-in-chief

2004, The First National Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Judge

2004, The 10th National Exhibition of Fine Arts, Judge

2005, Cheongju International Craft Biennale, South Korea, International Judge

2007, The Second China Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Judge; The Second China Lacquer Painting Biennale, Judge

2008, The 3rd China Youth Art Exhibition, Judge

2008, A Collection of Fine Chinese Contemporary Lacquer Paintings, Tianjin People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, Editor-in-chief

2009, The 11th National Exhibition of Fine Arts, Judge

2009, National Exhibition of Artworks by Primary and Secondary School Art Teachers, Judge

2010, Shanghai World Expo 2010 China Art Exhibition, Judge of Lacquer Painting Exhibition Area

2011, The Third China Lacquer Painting Biennale, Judge

2012, The Third National Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Judge

2012, Babel of the Heart - Art of Cheng Xiangjun, People’s Fine Arts Publishing House

2013, 1895 Chinese Contemporary Arts and Crafts Series Exhibition • Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Main Curator and Judge

2014, The 12th National Exhibition of Fine Arts - Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Judge of Preliminary Evaluation and Re-evaluation

2014, 2014 Cross-Strait Lacquer Arts Exhibition, Judge

2015, The 5th China Youth Art Exhibition, Judge of Re-evaluation

2015, The 5th China Lacquer Painting Biennale, Judge of Preliminary Evaluation and Re-evaluation

2016, Qiao Shiguang Lacquer Painting Art Innovation Award Judge

2016, The 4th National Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Judge of Preliminary Evaluation and Re-evaluation

2019, The 13th National Exhibition of Fine Arts - Lacquer Painting Exhibition, Judge of Re-evaluation Final Evaluation Judge of National Art Award

Collections

National Art Museum of China, Guangdong Museum of Art, Zhejiang Art Museum, Henan Art Museum, Fujian Art Museum, Xiamen Art Museum, Hubei Art Museum, Beijing Jinfu Art Center, Fine Arts Literature Art Center, Ningbo Art Museum, Shenzhen Art Museum, Dalian Zhongshan Art Museum, Art Museum of China National Academy of Painting, South Korea Modern Woodcraft Museum, Tongyeong Lacquer Art Museum, Embassy of China in Australia, Embassy of China in France, Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong, Beijing Daxing International Airport (Mural “Auspicious Crane” in the VIP Lounge), Fuzhou West Lake Hotel, Seaview Resort Xiamen, C&D Hotel Fuzhou, Beijing Changbaishan International Hotel (Large-Scale Mural and Environmental Art Installation Design).

Main Awards

Awarded the title of Excellent Thesis Supervisor for undergraduate and graduate students at the Academy of Arts & Design multiple times since 2000

Honored with “Honorary Education Ambassador Award” by the China Institute for WTO Studies, Ministry of Commerce and the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce in 2017

Received the Tsinghua University Teaching Award in the Spring Semester of 2020

Teaching

Educational Philosophy

The Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University is a prestigious national institution, and as such, it is an inescapable responsibility of its faculty members to ensure that the quality of education meets the standards of a world-class university. The teaching of lacquer art should focus on the theme of inheritance and development. In daily teaching, it must be elevated to the level of strengthening national cultural confidence, with a clear goal of talent cultivation. It is also important to focus on studying the history of both our own nation and traditional human civilization, and guiding students to draw inspiration from the natural beauty of history and create artistic works that express the original spirit of the times. We should help students broaden their artistic vision while placing equal emphasis on their artistic practice. In teaching, it is essential to focus on developing both their hands-on skills and their ability to think critically. We should adopt a student-centered approach, tailoring education to individual needs. By focusing on artistic aesthetics, professional direction, and the relevance to the times, we aim to cultivate innovative talents with comprehensive professional abilities. Higher education is not aimed at training ordinary “folk” artists or providing vocational art education; rather, it is dedicated to cultivating high-level art professionals, while also shaping students’ values and enhancing their professional abilities. This requires us to set a high standard in our teaching. Our academy boasts an excellent teaching tradition and enjoys considerable academic influence both domestically and internationally. Our teaching approach not only upholds the academic spirit of the academy, but also respects the individual development of students. We aim to help students master professional knowledge in a systematic and comprehensive way, with a particular focus on fostering a good learning style, a strong sense of artistic appreciation, and view of life values. We should selflessly share our years of accumulated experience in artistic creation with students.

Overview of Undergraduate Education and Teaching

In undergraduate teaching, our task is to help students shape their professional value. Through the undergraduate curriculum, we guide students from the end of high school to specialized study at the university level, with a focus on transforming their approach to professional thinking. The transition from high school to university study centers on the shift in thinking methods specific to the field of study. We aim to cultivate students’ ability to learn independently, help them make clear their future professional interests and career development path, and ensure they systematically acquire the professional knowledge. Especially, undergraduate students in the Academy of Arts & Design should establish a correct aesthetic view for the study of art history and art theory, learn and understand the development of human art history, cultivate the ability to make sound artistic judgments, sharpen their skills in artistic observation, and enhance their artistic creation skills. Additionally, they should complete their undergraduate studies in alignment with the academy's curriculum and training plan. The undergraduate teaching in the Department of Art and Crafts should emphasize both theoretical learning and artistic practice, with a strong focus on the integration of art and science. Particular attention should be given to the study of materials and the ontology language of artistic expression, aiming to cultivate highly skilled talents in art and crafts creation.

Overview of Graduate Education and Teaching

Graduate education builds upon the foundation of undergraduate studies, with a greater emphasis on developing students’ professional theoretical thinking and independent creation and research abilities. Students should be able to integrate theory with artistic practice, applying the theoretical knowledge they acquire to their creative and research endeavors within their professional field. Through our teaching, we aim to develop students' ability to tackle academic challenges. Graduate education follows an expert-oriented model, where the focus is on fostering students’ research interests and guiding them to cultivate a keen artistic insight and refined aesthetic judgment. Under the guidance of the mentor, students should be able to independently conduct research and demonstrate a high level of proficiency in professional artistic creation.

Teaching

Adhering to the motto of Tsinghua University that “Actions Speak Louder Than Words,” I am strict with myself and lenient with others, diligently fulfilling my responsibilities. The students I have mentored now hold teaching leadership roles at various institutions, including China Academy of Art, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University, Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Luxun Academy of Fine Arts, Academy of Fine Arts, Xiamen University, South-Central Minzu University, College of Fine Arts & Design, Hebei Normal University, Shandong University of Art & Design, Shandong University, Guangxi Arts University, School of Fine Arts, South China Normal University, Fine Arts Academy of Hunan Normal University, College of Art and Design, Beijing University of Technology, Science and Technology Department of the Palace Museum, Hebei Minzu Normal University, and Harbin Normal University. Their achievements have helped expand the influence of our disciplines. After Professor Qiao Shiguang’s retirement in 2003, I began to be responsible for the management of the lacquer art specialty. I restructured the curriculum for our lacquer art courses, dividing the original single-course model into three major sections: foundational courses, professional creation, and research projects, specifically including Lacquer Painting Art 1, 2, 3, and 4, as well as Project Creation, Comprehensive Materials Testing, and other courses.

Courses Taught

Based on the educational philosophy of cultivating versatile lacquer art design and creation talents, I integrate the teaching philosophy, structure, content, and methods, and mainly teach the following undergraduate courses: Lacquer Painting Art 1, 2, 3, and 4, Graduation Creation and Thesis Writing in Lacquer Art, Fine Brushwork Painting in Heavy Color, Color Sketching, etc.