Xu was born in Henan province in 1971, studied Fine Arts at Henan University, then earned his Master’s degree from the acclaimed China Central Academy of Fine Arts. “I learnt to use both Eastern and Western materials, tools, techniques and language, and this combination has had a powerful impact on my painting style today,” he explained.

The artist starts his works with very precise sketches, then adds thin layers of transparent oil mixed with opaque oil paint colours to build the texture. “I pursue thickness through thinness,” says Xu. “I rarely paint more than one work at a time – in between painting sessions, I study and read, mostly Chinese history.”

Xu’s works have sold at auction in Beijing, and are collected by Chinese actress Wang Yan, Olympic table tennis champion Wang Nan, international horseback archery expert Kassai Lajos and others. The artist was jointly commissioned to paint murals in the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, for which he received a Gold Medal at the China National Art Exhibition.