ARTIST BACKGROUND

Background of Willy Wang

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At age five, Willy's parents realized that he was an artist. He drew while the other children played. At age 18, he entered the famed central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, China. That year, seven people were accepted in the academy for sculpture out of 2,000 serious applicants. For five years, he studied with Liu Kai Qu and Hua Tan You, the finest sculpture teachers in China. Wei Li soon became one of China's premier sculptors and the talented young man worked continuously on the state art projects. Major works include large monuments throughout China, a 27 meter black granite victory monument in Guinea, West Africa (1972), a section of a large sculpture in the Potala Palace in Tibet (1974), participation in the making of the bronze tomb of Mao Tse Tung (1978), and a full size marble statue and portrait bust of President Hafez al-Assad of Syria (1979). In 1979-80, he completed three pieces: Uygur Old Man (wood), Spring In Pamir (marble) and Kazak Hunter (bronze) that are in the permanent collection of the China Art Museum in Beijing.

One of his greatest honors was being personally selected by Madame Sun Yat Sen (considered the Mother of China) to do her first marble sculpture portrait. After her death, the marble bust was dedicated to her Memorial Hall in Beijing and is considered a cultural relic. A second marble bust of Madame Sun Yat Sen is in the permanent collection at the China Arts museum. Later he completed a marble bust of Dr. Sun Yat Sen and the sculpture is part of the permanent collection of the Georgetown University in Washington DC. His best known private commission was a bronze bust of Cary Grant (by personal request and completed shortly before Grant's death).

Although he is prominently known for sculptures of the human figure, Wang has been commissioned for contemporary sculptures, murals, oil paintings, drawings and caricatures. A book of his caricatures was recently published in the US, China, France, Britain, Japan and Argentina. You can view more art works in various media by clicking HERE.

Willy Wang's style is a complement of form and content with a sculptural heritage from the French artistic heritage of Maillol, Bourdelle and Rodin. His sculpture has been described as permanent, vigorous, bold and honest. He creates distinct precise planes that express more than just the complete likeness of the person. He attempts to capture the essence of the subject and express their true personalities.

Wang is a member of the prestigious National Sculpture Society in New York, the Chinese Artists Association for Sculpture in Beijing and the China Artist Society. He currently resides in Houston, Texas and is an American citizen.