Pei Yang
Pei Yang was born in Yangzhou, China, in 1971. He now lives in Montreal, where he continues his artistic career. In his work, which borders on abstraction, he expresses himself in a complex and personal way. His free treatment of floral themes is distinctive, while evoking the approach of the impressionist painters.
Pei Yang - Intensity and Softness
Date and place of birth
Pei Yang was born in Yangzhou, China, in 1971. He now lives in Montreal, where he is pursuing his artistic career.
Background and career
Pei began his artistic training at secondary school and has since won numerous awards at group exhibitions and competitions. After earning an art scholarship, he immigrated to Canada in 1994 and chose to specialize in fine arts at the Ottawa School of Animated Art, which was then part of Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario.
Pei initially made his mark in animation, working on films for Columbia Studios and DreamWorks Studios. For both films, he helped design the visual presentation, notably as artistic director for scene backgrounds. One of his projects, the TV series “Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat,” even won an Emmy Award in 2002 specifically for that aspect of production. He has also worked on “The Greatest Thing,” “Heavy Metal,” and several other important productions in this field.
As his career advanced, Pei became more and more interested in painting. Since 1989, he has exhibited his works in many galleries, government buildings, and international film festivals in both China and Canada. In 1996, he hold his first solo exhibition, in Ottawa. From 1997 to 1999, he also served on the Board of Directors of the Chinese Canadian Arts Council of Canada and collaborated on several exhibitions organized by the centre. In 1999 and 2000, he worked as an assistant in the studio of Ontario painter Philip Craig, whose mindset influenced Pei and played an important role in his career path.
Work and art
Over the years, Pei has painted several themes, including interior scenes, landscapes, and flowers. Initially his work was more figurative, then gradually became more and more semi-abstract until it pushed the limits of abstraction. His current work, with oil paint, conveys a very complex and personal self-expression. Today, he devotes himself mainly to semi-abstract floral themes. His touch is free and - despite its obvious differences – evokes the works of impressionist painters, yet reflecting his own unique touch.
Pei Yang was born in Yangzhou, China, in 1971. He now lives in Montreal, where he is pursuing his artistic career.
Background and career
Pei began his artistic training at secondary school and has since won numerous awards at group exhibitions and competitions. After earning an art scholarship, he immigrated to Canada in 1994 and chose to specialize in fine arts at the Ottawa School of Animated Art, which was then part of Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario.
Pei initially made his mark in animation, working on films for Columbia Studios and DreamWorks Studios. For both films, he helped design the visual presentation, notably as artistic director for scene backgrounds. One of his projects, the TV series “Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat,” even won an Emmy Award in 2002 specifically for that aspect of production. He has also worked on “The Greatest Thing,” “Heavy Metal,” and several other important productions in this field.
As his career advanced, Pei became more and more interested in painting. Since 1989, he has exhibited his works in many galleries, government buildings, and international film festivals in both China and Canada. In 1996, he hold his first solo exhibition, in Ottawa. From 1997 to 1999, he also served on the Board of Directors of the Chinese Canadian Arts Council of Canada and collaborated on several exhibitions organized by the centre. In 1999 and 2000, he worked as an assistant in the studio of Ontario painter Philip Craig, whose mindset influenced Pei and played an important role in his career path.
Work and art
Over the years, Pei has painted several themes, including interior scenes, landscapes, and flowers. Initially his work was more figurative, then gradually became more and more semi-abstract until it pushed the limits of abstraction. His current work, with oil paint, conveys a very complex and personal self-expression. Today, he devotes himself mainly to semi-abstract floral themes. His touch is free and - despite its obvious differences – evokes the works of impressionist painters, yet reflecting his own unique touch.
Pei Yang is represented by the Au P'tit Bonheur Art Gallery since September 2020.
