He Jun

Member of the National Watercolor Society (U.S.)
Member of the Shaanxi Artists Association
Director of the Shaanxi Youth Artists Association
Director of the Shaanxi Folk Artists Association
Founder and Head of Textile City Art District (A Zone)

Artistic Vision

Born in 1971 in Xi’an, China, He Jun is a contemporary ink painter whose practice bridges traditional Eastern imagery with modern thought. A graduate of the Oil Painting Department of Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts (1994), He emerged in the 1990s as one of the pioneering figures of Xi’an’s contemporary art movement.

For more than three decades, He Jun has developed an artistic language that blends the poetic subtlety of ink with the intellectual depth of contemporary concepts. His works often explore symbolic subjects such as the Chinese Zodiac, totems, memory, and identity, constructing a visual world that is calm, philosophical, and highly recognizable.

As a founder of the Textile City Art District, He has also played a vital role in transforming this former industrial area into a cultural and artistic hub in western China.

Artistic Style

He Jun’s work focuses on ink painting on Xuan paper, finding a delicate balance between emptiness and substance, tradition and modernity. His iconic “Self-Portrait” Zodiac Series uses anthropomorphic animal figures to reflect the emotional and spiritual states of contemporary individuals.

He deliberately avoids ornamental excess, emphasizing instead the inner tension, symbolism, and quiet power of the image.
The rhythm of ink, subtle gradations, and the use of blank space together create a meditative atmosphere — a silent conversation between artist, subject, and viewer.

Exhibitions

2000 — Xi’an Contemporary Art Action Exhibition

2007 — “Back to the USSR,” Beijing 798 Fangyin Gallery

2007 — First Xi’an Documenta

2007 — Chang’an Meimei International Exhibition

2008 — Ten-Year Review of Xi’an Contemporary Art

2008 — “X-COMA Collection Exhibition” and “Die” Xi’an Solo Exhibition

2009 — 5th China Songzhuang Cultural and Art Festival

2009 — China-Korea Exchange Exhibition; “Chinese Imagery · Urban Banner” Xi’an Qujiang International Contemporary Art Season

2009 — “Art China” Ministry of Culture Young Artist Nomination Exhibition (Outstanding Works)

2011 — Textile City Five-Year Retrospective Exhibition

2013 — Xi’an Contemporary Art Six-Artist Exhibition

2019 — China-Europe International Biennale

2019 — 13th National Art Exhibition & Shaanxi Oil Painting Exhibition Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the PRC

Philanthropy

Beyond his artistic achievements, He Jun has also contributed significantly to community cultural development.
As a founder and long-time organizer of the Textile City Art District, he has helped build a vibrant contemporary art ecosystem in Xi’an and has actively supported public art programs and cultural initiatives.

He believes that art is not only an act of creation but also a form of social warmth and responsibility, capable of connecting people and conveying spirit and meaning.