About | shutian-tsao

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Shutian Cao (Chinese: 曹舒天) is a contemporary Chinese Guohua artist and art educator. He is a member of the China Artists Association and known for his traditional Ink wash painting featuring the landscape of Jiangnan Shuixiang.

Shutian was born on Dec.14th 1950 in Gaohang, Pudong, a suburban area in Shanghai. As a child, he was fascinated with Lianhuanhua, a type of palm-size picture books of sequential drawings popular in China in the 20th century. He replicated the illustrations from Lianhuanhua again and again till he could memorized the characters. In middle school his art teacher, Jiseng Li, who was a student of Pan Tianshou, became Shutian's first mentor of traditional ink wash painting. Jiseng believed in Shutian's potential and intended to train him into an art educator.

Culture revolution started when Shutian was 16 year old and interrupted Jiseng's plan. When Shutian was 20, he was trained into a profession carpenter for making a living. But the passion for fine arts never left him.

In 1973, Shutian was recruited as a Lianhuanhua artist by Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House. From 1973 to 1976, Shutian was systematically trained by professional artists from the publishing house and participated in the creation of Lianhuanhua, "The Spring Sprouts" ( 春苗 ) which was published nationwide in China. At that time, most art colleges in China refused to admit disabled students. Shutian's applications to art colleges were repeatedly turned down by the fact that his leg was crippled due to the aftermath of polio as a child.

In 1977, Culture revolution ended. Shutian was admitted by East China Normal University and became a middle school politics teacher after graduation. He devoted all his leisure time in art. His artwork was admitted by multiple national level exhibitions and earned attention from the professional field. After three years middle school teaching life, he switched his position to Chuansha Institute of teachers' advanced studies as an art educator.

His artwork reflects his non-pretentious love to his hometown, Jiangnan Shuixiang. The suburban area of Shanghai has been intensively urbanized and developed for decades. The poetic and nostalgic portrayal of the water town in his work is especially touching in the context of urbanization and digitalization in the 21 century.

A Highlight of Shutian's Most Recent 20 Years' Art Life

Solo Exhibitions and Publications

Visions of East and West: Traditional Chinese Painting by Shutian Cao, Exhibited at Pearls S. Buck House, Jan.13th - April.12th, 2025
Visions of the Idyllic: Ink Paintings by Cao Shutian, Exhibited at Perkins Center for the Arts, July 12 - August 16, 2025
Cao Shutian: Jiangnan Water Town Chinese Painting Exhibition
Exhibited at the Gallery of the Art Department, East China Normal University, October 27–November 1, 2001.
Cao Shutian: Jiangnan Old Houses — Collection of Chinese Paintings
Published by China International Fine Arts Press, April 2004.
Album of Members of the China Artists Association — Cao Shutian
Published by People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, 2010.
Ten Arts of China: Contemporary Chinese Painting and Calligraphy — Cao Shutian Volume
Published by Thread-Binding Books Publishing House, 2013.

Academic Papers

“Searching for an Entry Point in Painting,” published in Shanghai Fine Arts, No. 2, 2004, p. 44.
“Difference Is Art,” published in Chinese Painter, December 2004, p. 48.
“Painting Old Houses Is Enough for a Lifetime,” published in Shanghai Fine Arts, No. 4, 2009, p. 62.

Awards and Selections in Major Art Exhibitions

2025 – The Impression of Moravian Pottery & Tile Work, Selected for the 96th Phillips’ Mill Juried Art Show
2019 – Smooth Sailing
Selected for the 10th Shanghai Fine Arts Exhibition.
2017 – Mountain Wind
Selected for the 9th Shanghai Fine Arts Exhibition.
2015 – Hongfu Bridge, Xinchang
Selected for the 2015 Shanghai Chinese Painting Exhibition.
2013 – Water Town Affection
Selected for the 7th Shanghai Fine Arts Exhibition.
2013 – Blue Printed Cloth
Selected for the “Mount Tai—The Dignity of the Nation” National Chinese Painting Exhibition.
2012 – Impressions of Shaoxing Water Town
Selected for the Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition Commemorating the 130th Anniversary of Lu Xun’s Birth.
2012 – Blue Printed Cloth 2012.6
Selected for the 2012 National Chinese Painting Exhibition.
2011 – Ink Jiangnan
Selected for the 7th China Artists Association Members’ Chinese Painting Excellence Exhibition.
2011 – Jiangnan Old Houses
Selected for the Chinese Painting Masters Four-Panel Screen Exhibition, National Art Museum of China.
2011 – Jiangnan Breeze
Selected for the 6th Shanghai Fine Arts Exhibition.
2009 – Blue Printed Cloth No. 51
Selected for the 5th China Artists Association Members’ Chinese Painting Excellence Exhibition.
2009 – Farm Household
Awarded Excellence Award at the 2nd China Gongbi Landscape Painting Exhibition.
2009 – Moistening Things Silently
Awarded Bronze Prize at the National Mass Culture Fine Arts and Calligraphy Exhibition celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the PRC.
2009 – Blue Printed Cloth: Fish Blessing
Selected for the 5th Shanghai Fine Arts Exhibition.
2009 – The Willing Ox
Awarded First Prize at the 2nd National “Fish-and-Water Bond” Art Exhibition for Civil–Military Unity.
2008 –
Awarded Honorary Award at the 3rd Canada Chinese Poetry, Calligraphy, and Painting Exhibition.
2006 – Jiangnan Eden
Selected for the 6th National Gongbi (Meticulous) Painting Exhibition.
2006 – Courtyard in Bloom, Fragrance All Around
Selected for the 3rd China Artists Association Members’ Chinese Painting Excellence Exhibition.
2006 –
Awarded Silver Prize at the 1st Canada Poetry, Calligraphy, and Painting Exhibition.
2005 – Blue Printed Cloth No. 11
Selected for the 2nd China Artists Association Members’ Chinese Painting Excellence Exhibition.
2004 – Blue Printed Cloth No. 8
Selected for the 1st China Artists Association Members’ Chinese Painting Excellence Exhibition.
2003 – Rural Affection
Selected for the 2003 National Chinese Painting Exhibition.
2003 – Memories of Hard Years
Awarded Grand Prize at the 1st National “Fish-and-Water Bond” Art Exhibition for Civil–Military Unity.
2002 – Blue Printed Cloth No. 2
Awarded Excellence Award at the 2002 National Chinese Painting Exhibition.
2002 – Blue Printed Cloth No. 3
Awarded Excellence Award at the Tongli—International Chinese Painting Exhibition on World Heritage Protection.
2001 – Blue Printed Cloth No. 1
Selected for the 1st Shanghai Fine Arts Exhibition.
2001 – Memories of Jiangnan
Awarded the Innovation Award at the 4th Contemporary Chinese Landscape Painting Exhibition.
1999 – Abundant Harvest; Enduring Affection for the Water Town
Selected for the 8th National “Galaxy Award” Exhibition.
1994 – Enduring Affection for the Water Town
Selected for the 8th National Fine Arts Exhibition.
1992 – Small Scene of Keqiao
Awarded Merit Prize at the Maple Leaf Award Fine Art Competition, Canada.