Li Hei Di, what pane of glass make lucid the reflection?, 2024, oil on linen, 96-7/16" × 63" (245 cm × 160 cm) © Li Hei Di Li Hei Di Portrait of Li Hei Di © Li Hei Di. Photo: Robert Glowacki Details:b. 1997, Shenyang, China Read More Li Hei Di transmutes impassioned energy into paintings that intertwine biomorphic shapes with oneiric, ethereal environments.Straddling the line between figuration and abstraction, Li's canvases reveal human appendages visible just beneath atmospheric brushstrokes that gradually emerge as the viewer engages with the work. The artist draws beauty from ephemeral moments, exploring them through texture, balance, and a palette ranging from ambient reds and oranges to saccharine pinks and purples to deep greens and blues.Li’s practice is rooted in an examination of raw desire and instinctual urges—both repressed and fulfilled—shaped by their personal history, as well as influences from literature, music, and films. Themes from the works of writers like bell hooks, Byung-Chul Han, Mo Yan, Maggie Nelson, and Paul B. Preciado as well as wuxia films of the 1980s and ‘90s—such as Ching Siu-tung’s A Chinese Ghost Story (1987), Swordsman II: Asia the Invincible (1992), and Tsui Hark’s Green Snake (1993)—permeate their oeuvre. Li resists rigid notions of gender and sexuality, drawing queer associations from sources to produce fantastical, diaphanous compositions that bring the viewer into their world. While painting is a central medium for the artist, their practice also encompasses sculpture, stop-motion animation, and performance.Li left home as a teenager to attend a one-year student exchange program in Ohio before studying at Idyllwild Arts in southern California. They received a BA in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Arts, London, in 2020, and completed an MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art, London, in 2022. In 2024, Li was selected for Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia. Their first solo exhibition was held at Linseed Projects, Shanghai (2022), followed by Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles (2023), and Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London (2024). Most recently, Tongues of Flare (2025) was presented at Pace Gallery, Hong Kong, marking Li’s first solo exhibition with the gallery since they joined in 2024. Following its run in Hong Kong, Tongues of Flare will travel to the Pond Society where it will be on view during Shanghai Art Week, opening in November. Recent group exhibitions including their work have been held at Gagosian Gallery, Hong Kong (2023); Centre of International Contemporary Art, Vancouver (2023); X Museum Triennial, Beijing (2023); Yuz Museum, Shanghai (2023); Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Philippines (2024); Le Consortium, Dijon, France (2024); GRIMM, New York (2024); Pace Gallery, Los Angeles (2025); X Museum, Beijing (2025); and The Hepworth Wakefield, United Kingdom (2025–26). Their work is held in the collections of the Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio; Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin, Italy; The Hepworth Wakefield, United Kingdom; High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia; Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami; Long Museum, Shanghai; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; The Rachofsky Collection, Dallas, Texas; Tanoto Art Foundation, Singapore; and Ueshima Museum, Tokyo, among others. The artist lives and works in London. Read More Li Hei Di, Time roar in my ears like a river, 2025, oil on linen, 63" × 136-1/4" (160 cm × 346.1 cm) © Li Hei Di Li Hei Di, Wild Sumac in Early Autumn, 2025, oil on linen, 64-15/16" × 76-3/4" (164.9 cm × 194.9 cm) © Li Hei Di Li Hei Di, Gapes at the vanity of toil, 2025, oil on canvas, 74-13/16" × 66-15/16" (190 cm × 170 cm) © Li Hei Di Li Hei Di, Triple Flood, 2025, oil on linen, 25-9/16" × 21-5/8" (65 cm × 55 cm) © Li Hei Di Exhibitions View All On View land marks Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 17, 2026 Los Angeles Past Li Hei Di Tongues of Flare May 29 – Aug 29, 2025 Hong Kong Journal View All Artist Projects New Summer Playlists, Curated by Pace Artists Jun 09, 2025 Films Across the River: Li Hei Di’s Painted Explorations of Selfhood May 23, 2025 News Li Hei Di Joins Pace Gallery Sep 26, 2024 One-Artist Exhibitions Group Exhibitions Public Collections Books and Catalogues Periodicals Close Li Hei Di One-Artist Exhibitions Li Hei Di One-Artist Exhibitions DatesBorn 1997, Shenyang, ChinaLives and works in LondonEducation2022, Royal College of Art, London, MA2020, Chelsea College of Arts, London, BA2025Li Hei Di: Tongues of Flare, Pace Gallery, Hong Kong, May 29–August 29, 2025. Traveled to: Pond Society, Shanghai, November 10–December 31, 2025.2024Li Hei Di: 700 Nights of Winter, Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London, March 15–April 20, 2024.2023Li Hei Di: Oscillating Womb, Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles, November 2, 2023–January 6, 2024. (Catalogue)2022Li Hei Di: Tits at Dawn, Linseed Projects, Shanghai, November 11–December 18, 2022. Li Hei Di Group Exhibitions Li Hei Di Group Exhibitions 2025land marks, Pace Gallery, Los Angeles, November 1, 2025–January 17, 2026.Abstraction (Re)Creation - 20 Under 40, X Museum, Beijing, May 25–October 12, 2025.A Living Collection, The Hepworth Wakefield, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom, February 15, 2025–Spring 2026.The Monster: Curated by Robert Nava, Pace Gallery, Los Angeles, February 1–March 22, 2025.2024Fruit and Fruition, GRIMM, New York, June 28–August 9, 2024.“Abstraction (re)creation” 20 under 40, Le Consortium, Dijon, France, April 26–September 8, 2024.Wild: Women Abstractionists on Nature, Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Philippines, March 21–June 22, 2024.2023Inaugural Exhibition, Marquez Art Projects, Miami, opened September 23, 2023.Bordercrossing: Possibilities and Interactions, Yuz Museum, Shanghai, September 3–October 8, 2023.Home Is Where the Haunt Is, X Museum Triennial 2023, Beijing, August 27–November 26, 2023.A New Sensation, Galerie Marguo, Paris, May 11–June 24, 2023.New British Abstraction, Centre of International Contemporary Art, Vancouver, March 9–April 16, 2023. (Catalogue)Considering Female Abstractions, Green Family Art Foundation, Dallas, Texas, February 11–May 21, 2023.Uncanny Valley, Gagosian, Hong Kong, January 31–March 4, 2023.Conscious Unconscious, Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London, January 12–February 4, 2023.2022Degree Show, Royal College of Art, London, 2022.Memories of A Social Club That Doesn’t Exist, ZERUI Gallery, London, November 19–December 15, 2022.In Defense of Secrets, Downs & Ross, New York, June 22–August 5, 2022.A/D D/A, ZERUI Gallery, London, May 13–May 28, 2022.Eyes, Dusk, Phantasmagoria, Rupture XIBIT, London, April 10–12, 2022.Phantasmata, Public Gallery, London, March 31–April 30, 2022.Self-Dismiss, Gallery Vacancy, Shanghai, January 15–March 5, 2022.2021The Glass Bead Game, MAMOTH, London, December 11, 2021–January 29, 2022.Watch the Fire from the Shore, Linseed Projects, Shanghai, November 12–December 4, 2021.Tank Art Festival, Shanghai, September 30–October 3, 2021.Walls All Around, Fusion Design Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom, June 21–June 27, 2021.A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Shelves, Salon RT, London, opened June 6, 2021. (Catalogue)Online: Like Nothing Else in the Universe, Where is The Frame, opened March 18, 2021.2020We Are Done Here, Martin Goya Business, Hangzhou, China, 2020.Decadent Gaming, Linseed Projects, Shanghai, August 16–September 20, 2020.2019Can I Pay with Cash, Alexander Studios, London, 2019.MELON CAULI, Asylum Chapel, London, opened November 28, 2019.MURMURATIONS, Candid Arts Trust, London, August 31–September 8, 2019.2018Spectrum 2.0: figure and form, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, 2018.2017Juried Undergraduate Exhibition, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, November 10–December 10, 2017.2016Group Exhibition, Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Palm Desert, California, 2016.Polarized, Parks Exhibition Center, Idyllwild Arts Foundation, California, 2016. Li Hei Di Public Collections Li Hei Di Public Collections Asymmetry Art Foundation, LondonColumbus Museum of Art, OhioFondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin, ItalyGreen Family Art Foundation, Dallas, TexasThe Hepworth Wakefield, West Yorkshire, United KingdomHigh Museum of Art, Atlanta, GeorgiaInstitute of Contemporary Art, MiamiLong Museum, ShanghaiLos Angeles County Museum of ArtMarquez Art Projects, MiamiThe Rachofsky Collection, Dallas, TexasShah Garg Foundation, New YorkSong Art Museum, BeijingTanoto Art Foundation, SingaporeUeshima Musuem, Tokyo Li Hei Di Books and Catalogues Li Hei Di Books 2024Oscillating Womb (exhibition catalogue). Los Angeles: Michael Kohn Gallery, 2024: illustrated.2023New British Abstraction (exhibition catalogue). Texts by Louis Blanc Franard, Matt Carey-Williams, Viahsta Yuan, and Tony Hui Cao. Vancouver: Centre of International Contemporary Art, 2023: illustrated.20214 SOLOS (exhibition catalogue). Shanghai: Linseed Projects, 2021.Hayes, Caroline Georgea. A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Shelves (exhibition catalogue). London: Salon RT, 2021: illustrated. Li Hei Di Periodicals Li Hei Di Periodicals 2025Armstrong, Annie. “Go Behind the Scenes as Li Hei Di Opens Their Hong Kong Solo Show” (Pace Gallery exhibition review). Artnet, 24 July 2025. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/wet-paint-in-the-wild-li-hei-di-debut-solo-show-2670532Carollo, Elisa. Art Basel’s Soft Opening Belies Strong, Swift Sales Across Tiers.” Observer, 18 June 2025. https://observer.com/2025/06/sales-report-art-basel-2025-rothko-carrington/Chow, Vivienne. “Fast-Rising Painter Li Hei Di Smashes Auction Record at Sotheby’s Hong Kong.” Artnet News, 1 October 2025. https://news.artnet.com/market/li-hei-di-record-sothebys-hong-kong-2694960Freeman, Nate. “State of the Art.” Vanity Fair, Art Issue, November 2025: 76–89, illustrated. Web version: https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/story/in-the-studio-with-33-of-the-hottest-art-stars-on-the-planetGe, Joyce Jingyi. "Shows to see in Hong Kong, June 2025 (Part I)" (Pace Gallery exhibition review). ArtAsiaPacific, 5 June 2025. https://www.artasiapacific.com/shows/shows-to-see-in-hong-kong-june-2025-part-i/Lam, Karrie. “The Best Art Exhibitions to Visit In Hong Kong This June” (Pace Gallery exhibition preview.) Vogue Hong Kong, 5 June 2025. https://www.voguehk.com/en/article/art-lifestyle/hong-kong-art-exhibitions-june-2025/Short, Stephen. “Unveiling the Depths of Artist Li Hei Di” (Pace Gallery exhibition review). Prestige, 23 May 2025. https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/lifestyle/unveiling-the-depths-of-li-hei-dis-art/Short, Stephen. “China’s Rising Artists Taking Over London and the World.” Prestige, 25 July 2025. https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/lifestyle/art-plus-design/chinas-rising-artists-taking-over-london-and-the-world/#google_vignette2024Bilkus, Izzy. "Li Hei Di: 'I become more insane at night – I think everyone does.'" Plaster Magazine, 28 March 2024. https://plastermagazine.com/articles/interview-li-hei-di-700-nights-of-winter-pippy-houldsworth-gallery/Carollo, Elisa. “Auction News: Christie’s Record-Setting 21st Evening Sale and Phillips’ Ups and Downs.” Observer, 22 November 2024. https://observer.com/2024/11/auction-news-christies-21st-evening-sale-phillips-results/Dafoe, Taylor. "Young British Abstractionists." Sotheby's Magazine, September/October 2024.Deng, Kailei. "These 4 rising post-95 art stars cannot be ignored." YITART, 29 January 2024.https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/A8NIP9hupj_zyKp3y1ulwgDiament, Robert and Russell Tovey, host, Talk Art, podcast, season 20, episode 11, “Li Hei Di,” Acast, 15 March 2024. https://shows.acast.com/talkart/episodes/li-hei-diDurón, Maximilíano. “Emerging Artist Li Hei Di Joins Pace Gallery, Becoming the Youngest Artist on Its Roster.” ARTnews, 26 September 2024. https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/pace-gallery-li-hei-di-emerging-artist-representation-1234718680/“Eight Works to Fawn over at Frieze London 2024.” Ocula, 7 October 2024. https://ocula.com/advisory/perspectives/eight-works-to-fawn-over-frieze-london-2024/“Forbes 30 Under 30: Li Hei Di Artist Profile.” Forbes Asia, 16 May 2024. https://www.forbes.com/profile/li-hei-di/?sh=725d582158cdGaskin, Sam. “Li Hei Di Sets New Auction Record at Phillips Hong Kong.” Ocula, 26 November 2024. https://ocula.com/magazine/art-news/li-hei-di-sets-new-auction-record-at-phillips/Hutchings-Georgiou, Hannah. "Seeing Red with Li Hei Di." Elephant Magazine, 19 April 2024. https://elephant.art/seeing-red-with-li-hei-di/Lee, Sophie. "Don’t Miss These 8 Shows by Women Artists to Watch This Month." Cultured Magazine, 11 March 2024. https://www.culturedmag.com/article/2024/03/11/loie-hollowell-nicole-coson-sixten-sandra-osterbergLi, Hei Di. “Emerging Artist Li Hei Di Calls Her London Studio a ‘Parallel Universe,’ Where Hong Kong’s Cinematic Heroines and Mystical Abstraction Meet.” Interview with Cathy Fan. Artnet, 2 October 2024. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/studio-visit-li-hei-di-2365268Masters, HG. "Li Hei Di on '700 Nights of Winter.'" Art Asia Pacific, 14 March 2024. https://artasiapacific.com/people/li-hei-di-on-700-nights-of-winterMitchell, Rory. “Royal College of Art Graduate Li Hei Di Joins Pace Gallery.” Ocula, 27 September 2024. https://ocula.com/advisory/picks/li-hei-di-joins-pace-gallery/Novi, Ana. “Your First Look at the Best Booths of Art Basel Miami Beach.” Whitewall, 1 December 2024. https://whitewall.art/art/your-first-look-at-the-best-booths-of-art-basel-miami-beach/“Pace announces representation of Li Hei Di, painter of layered dreamscapes.” ArtDaily, 26 September 2024. https://artdaily.com/news/174297/Pace-announces-representation-of-Li-Hei-Di--painter-of-layered-dreamscapesRabb, Maxwell. “Emerging artist Li Hei Di breaks auction record at Phillips in New York.” Artsy, 20 November 2024. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-emerging-artist-li-hei-di-breaks-auction-record-phillips-new-yorkRabb, Maxwell. “$5.8 million Yoshitomo Nara painting leads Phillips Hong Kong’s modern and contemporary sale.” Artsy, 25 November 2024. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-58-million-yoshitomo-nara-painting-leads-phillips-hong-kongs-modern-contemporary-saleSutton, Benjamin. “Phillips's contemporary art auction in New York, hampered by Basquiat flop, brings in slim $44.2m.” The Art Newspaper, 19 November 2024. https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/11/19/phillips-new-york-contemporary-art-evening-auction-44m-pollock-twombly-basquiatThaddeus-Johns, Josie. “Pace Gallery will represent Li Hei Di, now the youngest artist on its roster.” Artsy, 27 September 2024. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-pace-gallery-will-represent-li-hei-di-youngest-artist-rosterXi, Mulan. "They are coming with great momentum｜Young artists Fang Yuan, Li Heidi, Long Pan." Glass Official, 20 May 2024. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/2oSYuvsgbW9quyG9INnkcw2023"The Best of 2023: According to 6 Painters Who Defined It." Ocula, 22 December 2023. https://ocula.com/advisory/perspectives/best-of-2023-according-to-painters-who-defined-it/?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-ocula.art&utm_content=later-40003087&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio"The British artists who took over Paris." LUX Magazine, Spring/Summer 2023. https://www.lux-mag.com/the-british-artists-who-took-over-paris/Cheshire, Lee. "London Gallery Weekend announces performance commissions." The Art Newspaper, 5 May 2023. https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/05/05/london-gallery-weekend-announces-performance-commissionsFan, Cathy. “Emerging Artist Li Hei Di Calls Her London Studio a ‘Parallel Universe,’ Where Hong Kong’s Cinematic Heroines and Mystical Abstraction Meet.” Artnet, 2 October 2023. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/studio-visit-li-hei-di-2365268Halperin, Julia. “Painting Outside the Lines.” W Magazine, 13 December 2023. https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/contemporary-abstract-artists-womenJeffreys, Tom. "The Best Shows at London Gallery Weekend." Frieze, 31 May 2023. https://www.frieze.com/article/best-shows-london-gallery-weekend-2023Kakar, Arun. "The Artsy Vanguard 2023–2024: Li Hei Di." Artsy, 6 November 2023. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-artsy-vanguard-2023-li-hei-diMitchell, Rory. "Li Hei Di’s U.S. Solo Debut at Michael Kohn Gallery." Ocula, 9 November 2023. https://ocula.com/advisory/picks/li-hei-di-us-debut-michael-kohn-gallery/Mitchell, Rory. “Li Hei Di in the Studio.” Ocula, 8 February 2023. https://ocula.com/advisory/studio-visits/li-hei-di-in-the-studio/Westfall, Mark. “London Gallery Weekend 2023: More Details Released.” FAD Magazine, 25 May 2023. https://fadmagazine.com/2023/05/25/london-gallery-weekend-2023-more-details-released/2022“The Armory Show: Five Artists to Watch.” Ocula, 14 September 2022. https://ocula.com/advisory/perspectives/the-armory-show-five-emerging-artists-to-watch/“Five Galleries to See At Art-O-Rama, Marseille.” FAD Magazine, 22 August 2022. https://fadmagazine.com/2022/08/22/five-galleries-to-see-at-art-o-rama-marseille/Wan, Jessica. “Interview with Li Hei Di.” Young Artists in Conversation, April 2022. https://youngartistsinconversation.co.uk/Li-HeidiLi, Hei Di. “Sangram Majumdar and Li Heidi in conversation with MAMOTH.” MAMOTH, 24 February 2022. https://www.mamoth.co.uk/blog/30-sangram-majumdar-and-li-heidi-in-conversation-with/2021“In Conversation With: Li Hei Di.” Where’s The Frame, 18 March 2021. https://www.wherestheframe.com/post/in-conversation-with-li-hei-di