Chen Yanning was born in 1945 in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. He attended the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, graduating in 1965 and remained there for further study through 1986. He was a professional artist at the Guangdong Painting Institute, a member of the Council of the Chinese Artists’ Association, and a 
member of the Guangdong Literature and Art Union. In 1987, he accepted an invitation from Robert Hefner to come to the U.S. for the opening of the Harkness House Exhibition. He has remained here ever since, developing an impressive career as a commissioned portrait painter. Chen Yanning has traveled extensively and has been a guest artist in Australia, Brazil, Great Britain, France and the United States, presenting one-man exhibitions in all of these countries. His work has been acquired by major museums including the Chinese National Gallery, the Museum of Chinese History and the West Australian National Gallery. Today, he and his family live in New Jersey.
Winter Sunshine, 1988
Oil on Canvas
40" x 30" (101.6cm x 76.2cm)About this work
Chen Yanning is a master portrait painter. As represented here in his early work, he focused on normal Chinese subjects, often his neighbors and friends. He has always been interested in a quality of light that adds contrast and character to his straightforward compositions.
Village Lane, 1988
Oil on Canvas
30" x 24" (76.2cm x 60.9cm)About this work
Chen Yanning is equally adept at painting landscapes as he is at painting portraits. In “Village Lane” he has framed a typically narrow street with a brick entryway depicted in great detail. The holiday banners in red give the scene contrast and make it immediately identifiable to native Chinese.
Old Farmer, 1988
Oil on Canvas
20" x 30" (50.8cm x 76.2cm)About this work
Chen Yanning is a master portrait painter. As represented here in his early work, he focused on normal Chinese subjects, often his neighbors and friends. He has always been interested in a quality of light that adds contrast and character to his straightforward compositions.
A Home to Return To, 1988
Oil on Canvas
30" x 40" (76.2cm x 101.6cm)About this work
Chen Yanning is a master portrait painter. As represented here in his early work, he focused on normal Chinese subjects, often his neighbors and friends. He has always been interested in a quality of light that adds contrast and character to his straightforward compositions.
Portrait of Robert A. Hefner III, 1990
Oil on Canvas
25" x 40" (63.5cm x 101.6cm)About this work
This portrait of Robert A. Hefner III was painted in his home in Oklahoma City. Mr. Hefner stands in the middle of his living room surrounded by his art collection, pausing for a moment before attending a dinner party. Under the sponsorship of Robert Hefner, Chen Yanning was a guest lecturer and instructor at Oklahoma City University between 1988 and 1990. He painted this portrait at that time.
The Family in the Bamboo Forest, 1990
Oil on Canvas
24" x 30" (60.9cm x 76.2cm)About this work
This peaceful landscape depicts life along a river in southern China. The muted colors, soft light, and lush foliage establish this as a tropical location. The color of the clothing on the two figures by the waterside creates a subtle focal point in the composition. While the scene is interpreted realistically, the brushwork is slightly soft, adding to the painterly quality of the work.
Early Natural Gas c.221 B.C. - 220 A.D.
Oil on Canvas
36" x 48" (91.4cm x 121.9cm)About this work
In 1988, because of Robert Hefner’s pioneering work in natural gas exploration, he commissioned Chen Yanning to travel to Sichuan province, where natural gas was first used, to research the origin of natural gas drilling and its use for potential paintings. The result was a trilogy of works illustrating the three stages of natural gas development techniques in China from 221 B.C. to 1368 A.D.
Early Natural Gas c.147 A.D. - 189 A.D.
Oil on Canvas
36" x 48" (91.4cm x 121.9cm)About this work
In 1988, because of Robert Hefner’s pioneering work in natural gas exploration, he commissioned Chen Yanning to travel to Sichuan province, where natural gas was first used, to research the origin of natural gas drilling and its use for potential paintings. The result was a trilogy of works illustrating the three stages of natural gas development techniques in China from 221 B.C. to 1368 A.D.
Early Natural Gas c. 1041 A.D. - 1368 A.D.
Oil on Canvas
36" x 48" (91.4cm x 121.9cm)About this work
In 1988, because of Robert Hefner’s pioneering work in natural gas exploration, he commissioned Chen Yanning to travel to Sichuan province, where natural gas was first used, to research the origin of natural gas drilling and its use for potential paintings. The result was a trilogy of works illustrating the three stages of natural gas development techniques in China from 221 B.C. to 1368 A.D.
