
Steele Xiang
Born in 1947 in Beijing, China. Steele Xiang showed an exceptional artistic talent at early age. While still in third grade, he was admitted to the much esteemed Beijing Children’s Place Art School. Previously, at the tender age of six Steele won the silver prize in the Beijing Children’s Drawing Competition and his drawing was published by “Little Friends”, a famous magazine for children. Enthusiastic about this obvious artistic aptitude, his teachers entered him in numerous other major competitions between the years 1955 and 1959.
At the age of fifteen, Steele Xiang was accepted to the very exclusive nine-years program of the Central Institute of Fine Art in Beijing, the finest art school in China with instructors trained in Europe and USSR. In order to win one of the handfuls of positions available each year, a high level of excellence and artistic maturity was required. Steele was chosen from among the thousands of yearly applicants. In the program, continued progress and excelleBorn in 1947 in Beijing, China. Steele Xiang showed an exceptional artistic talent at early age. While still in third grade, he was admitted to the much esteemed Beijing Children’s Place Art School. Previously, at the tender age of six Steele won the silver prize in the Beijing Children’s Drawing Competition and his drawing was published by “Little Friends”, a famous magazine for children. Enthusiastic about this obvious artistic aptitude, his teachers entered him in numerous other major competitions between the years 1955 and 1959.
At the age of fifteen, Steele was accepted to the very exclusive nine-years program of the Central Institute of Fine Art in Beijing, the finest art school in China with instructors trained in Europe and USSR. In order to win one of the handfuls of positions available each year, a high level of excellence and artistic maturity was required. Steele was chosen from among the thousands of yearly applicants. In the program, continued progress and excellence in performance was essential. At the Institute, the students were given the opportunity to exhibit their works in public, Steele Xiang’s participation in those exhibitions won him early acclaim in school.
By the age of nineteen, in 1966, the culture revolution broke out. Throughout this time, China and its people experienced great social turbulence for nearly a decade. During those atrocious years, Steele Xiang managed to continue his study and practice by painting Chairman Mao’s portraits and propaganda paintings for government and public exhibitions, which earned him valuable knowledge and experiences.
In 1973, Steele Xiang was honored by the city of Shanghai with a teaching position at Shanghai Normal University, where he continue as associated professor until 1982, his full professorship in the art department included giving classes in oil painting, drawing, watercolor and composition. During these years, he also traveled to many different regions of the country to study their rich cultures and gain inspirations as well as expanding his interests in traditional oriental art and fork art.
The 80′s started off well for Steele Xiang, his oil painting entitled “Elapse” was met with an immense success. The painting was seen in a documentary movie nationally and was published by the leading art and literature magazine. Recognition of his work remained high and enthusiastic through this decade, as he continued exhibit almost yearly in addition to his teaching. In 1982, he became the fine art director and editor of the fine art division in Shanghai Pictorial Publishing House. he was responsible for fine art coverage for its magazines and books. Steele also pursued his passion by creating books and magazines illustrations and published many children’s picture storybooks during the decade.
in 1986, he took an offer by Shanghai University to become a professor at the Collage of Fine Art School. Later on that year, his oil paintings were chosen to be part of an exhibition held in Royal gallery in Copenhagen. Denmark. In 1987, his painting were selected for another exhibition in Tokyo, Japan.
Steele Xiang immigrated to United States in 1988 to advance his art career. He studied in Academy of Art College in San Francisco until 1990. In 1989, almost immediately upon establishing himself in San Francisco, he started to exhibit his unique style paintings in Forster Collection of Fine Art Gallery on Union Square and Sausalito, This style, which he has developed in late 80″s, was a mixture of influence from western art and oriental art, as well as sparked by the inspiration, he gained from years of travel around China. Public responded very favorable to his works. Forster Collection of Fine Art honored him a one-man show later in 1990.
Steele was introduced to the annual art gathering, Art Expo in Los Angeles in 1989 and 1990. from 1989, Austin Galleries exhibited his works in Chicago and Laguna beach, California. In 1991, Steele Xiang was honored with a one-man show held at Axis Gallery in San Francisco. Later on the same year, he exhibited his works at Art for the 90′s Gallery in Los Angeles. In 1992, he had another one-man show in Michael Doughterty Gallery in San Francisco.
Since 1992, Steele Xiang had exhibited his works in Cave Art Center In Taipei, a leading art gallery in Taiwan. In 1993, Cave Art Center honored him with a one-man show for his new paintings.
Beginning in 1994, Steele Xiang returned back to western realistic style painting in oil, concentrating mainly on landscape and figurative painting, as well as working intermittently on still life painting. since then he has conducted a series of California golden hills landscape, Sea harbor and boat landscape, China water canal landscape and Tibetan figurative which have become quite popular with art collectors. He has been represented by New Masters Gallery in Carmel from 2001, Morseburg Gallery in West Hollywood, Water House Gallery in Santa Barbara from 2003, Pogan Gallery in Lake Tahoe from 1995 to 2008, Aspen Mountain Gallery in Aspen, Co. from 2002 to 2005, Cottage Gallery in Carmel from 1996 to 2001, and Mamone Gallery in San Francisco from 1997 to 2002. he had one-man shows in 1997, 1999 and 2003, also has participated many group shows in US and over seas. In 1995, his oil paining “dance class” won first place in prestigious California Art Club 86th Golden Metal Show.
Not simple a “fast food” artist, who cranks out for the masses, Steele Xiang infuses his paintings with rich past of experience, talent, and craftsmanship that would be expected from a master.nce in performance was essential. At the Institute, the students were given the opportunity to exhibit their works in public, Steele Xiang’s participation in those exhibitions won him early acclaim in school.
By the age of nineteen, in 1966, the culture revolution broke out. Throughout this time, China and its people experienced great social turbulence for nearly a decade. During those atrocious years, Steele Xiang managed to continue his study and practice by painting Chairman Mao’s portraits and propaganda paintings for government and public exhibitions, which earned him valuable knowledge and experiences.
In 1973, Steele Xiang was honored by the city of Shanghai with a teaching position at Shanghai Normal University, where he continue as associated professor until 1982, his full professorship in the art department included giving classes in oil painting, drawing, watercolor and composition. During these years, he also traveled to many different regions of the country to study their rich cultures and gain inspirations as well as expanding his interests in traditional oriental art and fork art.
The 80′s started off well for Steele Xiang, his oil painting entitled “Elapse” was met with an immense success. The painting was seen in a documentary movie nationally and was published by the leading art and literature magazine. Recognition of his work remained high and enthusiastic through this decade, as he continued exhibit almost yearly in addition to his teaching. In 1982, he became the fine art director and editor of the fine art division in Shanghai Pictorial Publishing House. he was responsible for fine art coverage for its magazines and books. Steele also pursued his passion by creating books and magazines illustrations and published many children’s picture storybooks during the decade.
in 1986, he took an offer by Shanghai University to become a professor at the Collage of Fine Art School. Later on that year, his oil paintings were chosen to be part of an exhibition held in Royal gallery in Copenhagen. Denmark. In 1987, his painting were selected for another exhibition in Tokyo, Japan.
Steele Xiang immigrated to United States in 1988 to advance his art career. He studied in Academy of Art College in San Francisco until 1990. In 1989, almost immediately upon establishing himself in San Francisco, he started to exhibit his unique style paintings in Forster Collection of Fine Art Gallery on Union Square and Sausalito, This style, which he has developed in late 80″s, was a mixture of influence from western art and oriental art, as well as sparked by the inspiration, he gained from years of travel around China. Public responded very favorable to his works. Forster Collection of Fine Art honored him a one-man show later in 1990.
Steele was introduced to the annual art gathering, Art Expo in Los Angeles in 1989 and 1990. from 1989, Austin Galleries exhibited his works in Chicago and Laguna beach, California. In 1991, Steele Xiang was honored with a one-man show held at Axis Gallery in San Francisco. Later on the same year, he exhibited his works at Art for the 90′s Gallery in Los Angeles. In 1992, he had another one-man show in Michael Doughterty Gallery in San Francisco.
Since 1992, Steele Xiang had exhibited his works in Cave Art Center In Taipei, a leading art gallery in Taiwan. In 1993, Cave Art Center honored him with a one-man show for his new paintings.
Beginning in 1994, Steele Xiang returned back to western realistic style painting in oil, concentrating mainly on landscape and figurative painting, as well as working intermittently on still life painting. since then he has conducted a series of California golden hills landscape, Sea harbor and boat landscape, China water canal landscape and Tibetan figurative which have become quite popular with art collectors. He has been represented by New Masters Gallery in Carmel from 2001, Morseburg Gallery in West Hollywood, Water House Gallery in Santa Barbara from 2003, Pogan Gallery in Lake Tahoe from 1995 to 2008, Aspen Mountain Gallery in Aspen, Co. from 2002 to 2005, Cottage Gallery in Carmel from 1996 to 2001, and Mamone Gallery in San Francisco from 1997 to 2002. he had one-man shows in 1997, 1999 and 2003, also has participated many group shows in US and over seas. In 1995, his oil paining “dance class” won first place in prestigious California Art Club 86th Golden Metal Show.
Not simple a “fast food” artist, who cranks out for the masses, Steele Xiang infuses his paintings with rich past of experience, talent, and craftsmanship that would be expected from a master.











