Artist: Li Ruoheng Curator: Xia Kejun Producer: Rou Qiang

Exhibition Dates: June 12 – August 9, 2026 Opening Reception: 4:00-5：30 PM, June 14, 2026

Gen Gallery is honored to present Li Ruoheng’s solo painting exhibition Matador, curated by Professor Xia Kejun. The exhibition will run from June 12 to August 9, 2026, with the opening reception scheduled for 4:00 PM on June 14 at Gen Gallery in Beijing’s 798 Art District.

In 2025, Li Ruoheng held the first stop of her world touring exhibition at the bullring in Madrid. She became the first female Eastern artist to hold a solo exhibition at this historic venue since its completion in 1929. Through her work, she shared Chinese artistic sensibilities and Eastern aesthetics with Spanish audiences. This Beijing leg of the tour brings the passion of bullfighting back to Beijing.

Li Ruoheng employs precious materials such as gold, pearls, mother-of-pearl, and gemstones, combined with enamel techniques and her self-developed three-dimensional carving methods, to vividly render the ornate details of bullfighting attire. The exhibition features six large-scale portraits of matadors from different countries, showcasing unique cultural narratives while paying homage to art history and its masters.

We warmly welcome friends from around the world to join this cultural celebration.

The opening event is free of charge, with complimentary drinks, snacks, and Spanish music.
The exhibition remains open until August 9, Tuesday to Saturday, 11am–5pm. Closed on Mondays.

地址 Address
北京市朝阳区798艺术区797东街A04号- 亘画廊
Gen Gallery, Building A04, 798 Art District, No.2 JiuxianqiaoRoad, Chaoyang District, Beijing

About the Artist

Li Ruoheng was born in Beijing in 1993. She received her MA in Contemporary Art Practice from the Royal College of Art in the UK in 2023 and her BFA in Fine Art from the ArtCenter College of Design in the United States in 2018. Li Ruoheng is one of the most dynamic and multifaceted young artists in the contemporary art scene. Her artistic practice is deeply rooted in rich life experiences, reflecting a spirit of exploration toward the eternal. Drawing from her personal journey as the foundation of her expression, she excels at merging material properties with artistic themes to create emotionally resonant works.

Li Ruoheng’s works have been exhibited across the globe, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Israel, Colombia, and China. Her pieces have been collected by international collectors for their unique cultural perspectives and distinctive visual language.

About the Curator

Xia Kejun, born in 1969, is a philosopher, art critic, and curator. He studied at the University of Freiburg in Germany and the University of Strasbourg in France, and currently serves as a professor at the School of Liberal Arts, Renmin University of China. Renowned for his research in contemporary aesthetics, art theory, and phenomenology, he was awarded the European Medal of Poetry and Art (HOMER) in 2023.

Xia Kejun is dedicated to integrating Chinese and Western philosophical traditions. He has published over twenty books on philosophy and art, fostering profound dialogues between Chinese thinkers such as Zhuangzi and Daoist philosophy and Western philosophers including Heidegger, Benjamin, Kafka, and Derrida. He has helped standardize Eastern concepts such as “the useless,” “emptiness,” and “remainder,” establishing them as important categories in contemporary philosophy. As a highly influential contemporary art critic and curator, Xia Kejun has also proposed concepts such as “meager art,” “virtual image,” and “geotopology,” which have served as the foundation for a series of significant exhibitions in China and Europe.