Kong Fanping: American Landscape
February 3 - March 13, 2025
Opening reception: Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 1-2pm
Open late for Capitol Hill Art Walk, Thursday, February 13, 2025, 4-7pm
After moving to the United States, Kong Fanping was deeply shocked by the magnificent scenery and natural beauty of this country. These landscape paintings of California, Arizona, and Washington State express the artist’s feelings and experiences of the sublime.
Mr. Kong, b. 1956, was Professor at the China Academy of Art and member of the Chinese Artists Association. He is an influential figure in contemporary China. He graduated from the Oil Painting Department of Beijing Academy of Fine Arts in 1982 and stayed at the school to teach. His works have been included in the "National Art Works Exhibition", "National Sports Art Works Exhibition", "Chinese Modern Oil Painting Exhibition", "The First National Excellent Oil Painting Competition Exhibition", "Algiers International Plastic Art Exhibition", and "East Asian Art Exhibition." His award-winning works have been collected by the National Art Museum of China as well as international art institutions and won awards. His artwork has been published in nine collections and monographs.
Artist website: kongfanping.com
Main image & top left image: Sedona Series, 2022
Visual description: The image is a painting depicting a large red rock formation under a blue sky with wispy clouds. The rock formation is prominent, occupying the upper part of the image and dominating the landscape. Its surface is rugged, with sharp edges and varying shades of red and orange, giving it a textured appearance. At the base of the formation, there are several clusters of green trees, which contrast sharply with the rocky backdrop. Among the trees, there are some small buildings, partially obscured by the foliage. The foreground features a grassy area with sparse vegetation, including a couple of distinctive green plants. The colors are vibrant, blending warm earth tones with the cooler hues of the sky.
2nd left image California Series, 2022
Visual description: The image is a painting of a coastal landscape with a rugged rocky shoreline in the foreground and a vast expanse of ocean extending to the horizon. The foreground features large, textured rocks with varying shades of brown and gray, arranged diagonally from the bottom left. The ocean water is depicted in rich blue hues, with white, foamy waves crashing against the rocks. In the midground, additional smaller rocks emerge from the sea. Several seagulls are visible flying over the water, adding to the dynamic scene. The sky above is clear, painted in soft blues with a hint of clouds. The horizon is marked by a faint line, suggesting distant landmasses or more sea.
3rd left image: California Series, 2022
Visual description: The image is a painting depicting a coastal landscape. In the foreground, there are rugged white rocks with hints of grey and blue, forming an uneven terrain. The rocks appear weathered and textured. Alongside the rocks, patches of greenery and small purple flowers are scattered, adding a touch of color. Beyond the rocks, a calm sea stretches out to the horizon. The water is a muted blue-grey, reflecting the overcast sky above. Several white seagulls are flying over the sea. In the background, a series of cliff formations are visible, with a few grassy areas on top. The sky occupies the upper portion of the painting, depicted in soft tones of blue with some wispy clouds.
Bottom left image: California Series, 2022
Visual description: The image is a painting of a coastal scene featuring a rocky shoreline meeting a vast expanse of ocean. In the foreground, clusters of light beige and olive-green rocks are interspersed with vibrant green shrubs and purple wildflowers. The rugged rocks are textured and weathered, contrasting with the smooth water surface. In the midground, the ocean ripples gently and is a gradient of blues and greens, extending to the horizon. White seabirds are scattered above the water. The far distance reveals a faint landmass on the horizon beneath a partly cloudy blue sky.