Yi Liu

Yi Liu’s work is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese myths and legends, exploring themes of liberty, multiplicity, and inclusivity while unraveling the complexities of the individual psyche. Marked by fluidity and ambiguity, her art challenges the boundaries between species and disrupts conventional gender paradigms, expanding and redefining established norms.

Liu’s practice merges lyrical colour with the classical precision of fresco techniques, enriched by a dynamic range of brushwork. By employing diverse media, she crafts a visually ethereal aesthetic where human and natural forms intertwine. This interplay serves as a metaphor for love and freedom, offering a poignant reflection on power structures and social conventions.

Yi Liu (b. 1996, China. Lives and works in London, UK) had her debut solo exhibition at Cob Gallery, London, UK. She has featured in group exhibitions at Cob Gallery, London, UK; Lychee One Gallery, London, UK; Guts Gallery, London, UK; Greatorex Street, London, UK; Chilli Art Projects, London, UK; Speiro Projects at Noho Venues, London, UK and the Yue Art Museum, Beijing, China.

EDUCATION

2025 MFA Painting, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing

2024 MA Painting, Royal College of Art, London

2021 BFA Painting, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing

2017 Fine Arts School Affiliated to China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2026 Cob Gallery, London, UK (forthcoming)

2025 The Hunt, Shrine, New York, USA

2024 Searching the Mountains, Cob Gallery, London, UK

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025 CAIM Curated by Jenn Ellis & Matilda Liu, Slane Caslte, Dublin, Ireland

2025 Pharmakon, Pharmakeus, Pharmakos, ARARIO GALLERY SHANGHAI, Shanghai, China