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Lei Yu (1921-1989)
Bio
Lei Yu (1921-1989) was born in Zhongshan, Guangdong, China. He began to study painting in 1937 with the distinguished Western watercolor artist, Li Tiefu (1869-1952) who studied in New York under William Merrit Chase (1849-1916) and John Singer Sargent (1856-1925). Lei Yu continued his studies at the National Fine Art College in Hong Kong with the well-known artist Chow Kong Lei (1903-1989) and in 1950, founded the Hong Kong Fine Art Academy. In 1953, he studied Chinese painting in Shanghai with the celebrated artists He Tianjian (1891-1977), Lai Chusheng (1902-1975), and Jiang Handing (1903-1963). In Shanghai in 1979, Lei Yu was the founder and Vice-president of the Shanghai Watercolor Society. He was also a member of the Chinese Artists' Association in Beijing and Shanghai and a member of China's Cinematographers' Association. He is listed in the Dictionary of Chinese Artists and China Contemporary Artists Brief Biography. In 1982, Lei Yu moved to New York City where he spent his final years as a distinguished art teacher and watercolor artist.
1952
Set designer Shanghai Animation Studio
1960-1963
Faculty, Shanghai Cinematographic Institute
1962-1964
Faculty, Shanghai Fine Art College
1962
Elected by the Shanghai Art Association to attend the Third National
Conference on Art and Literature
1982
Taught watercolor classes in his studio in NYC
1985
Watercolor instructor at Bloomfield Art League
1985
Watercolor instructor at Clifton Art Association
1986
Faculty China Institute of America in NYC
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS
1990
Lei Yu Memorial Exhibition, L.J. Wender Fine Chinese Painting, NYC
1987
Lei Yu - Memories of China, L.J. Wender Fine Chinese Painting, NYC
1986
New Watercolors by Lei Yu, L.J. Wender Fine Chinese Painting, NYC
Group exhibition at Lincoln Center
1985
Exhibition Paintings and Drawings of Dancers by Mai Hoffer, Darilyn Lowe and Lei Yu, Perridance Center, NYC
The Arthur F. Harless Landscape Award at Hudson Valley Art Association
Anonymous Benefactor Award at National Art League of New York
The Charles T. Bainbridge's Sons Material Award at Art Center of NJ
Cynthia Goodgal Memorial Award at the Ridgewood Art Institute NJ
1984
Second Prize at National Art League, NY
1983
Exhibited at the Hudson Valley Art Association
1982
Exhibited at the American Artists Professional League
First Prize at the National Art League, NY
Exhibited at the Salmagundi Club, NYC
1981
One-person show at Three Friends Studio, NYC
1951
Eleven oil and watercolor artists, Hong Kong
1945
One-person show, Zhongqing
1943
One-person show, Guilin
1952
Set designer Shanghai Animation Studio
1960-1963
Faculty, Shanghai Cinematographic Institute
1962-1964
Faculty, Shanghai Fine Art College
1962
Elected by the Shanghai Art Association to attend the Third National
Conference on Art and Literature
1982
Taught watercolor classes in his studio in NYC
1985
Watercolor instructor at Bloomfield Art League
1985
Watercolor instructor at Clifton Art Association
1986
Faculty China Institute of America in NYC
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS
1990
Lei Yu Memorial Exhibition, L.J. Wender Fine Chinese Painting, NYC
1987
Lei Yu - Memories of China, L.J. Wender Fine Chinese Painting, NYC
1986
New Watercolors by Lei Yu, L.J. Wender Fine Chinese Painting, NYC
Group exhibition at Lincoln Center
1985
Exhibition Paintings and Drawings of Dancers by Mai Hoffer, Darilyn Lowe and Lei Yu, Perridance Center, NYC
The Arthur F. Harless Landscape Award at Hudson Valley Art Association
Anonymous Benefactor Award at National Art League of New York
The Charles T. Bainbridge's Sons Material Award at Art Center of NJ
Cynthia Goodgal Memorial Award at the Ridgewood Art Institute NJ
1984
Second Prize at National Art League, NY
1983
Exhibited at the Hudson Valley Art Association
1982
Exhibited at the American Artists Professional League
First Prize at the National Art League, NY
Exhibited at the Salmagundi Club, NYC
1981
One-person show at Three Friends Studio, NYC
1951
Eleven oil and watercolor artists, Hong Kong
1945
One-person show, Zhongqing
1943
One-person show, Guilin