Ma Kelu was born in Shanghai in 1954 and later relocated to Beijing, is one of the members of the "The No Name Painting Association," a contemporary Chinese art group from the 1970s. Committed to the practice of "art returning to its essence," Ma Kelu has always been dedicated to the principle of achieving complete freedom in his artistic creation. He participated in the underground art exhibition in 1974 and the public exhibition of the Nameless Painting Society in 1979, and in the early 1980s, he became a member of the Beijing Abstract Art Experimental Group. His early landscape works exceeded the general significance of sketching from life, with his practice itself characterized by distinct artistic propositions, research awareness, and working methods. He moved to New York at an early age and studied at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Until 2006, Ma Kelu returned to his hometown, continuing his abstract style with a broader vision.
MA's recent solo exhibitions include: "Ma Kelu: Free Fall",Art Basel Hong Kong, Leo Gallery(2026); "Ma Kelu: Echo", Platform China Contemporary Art Institute, Beijing, China (2024); "Since Ada: MA Kelu 2016-2024", Arario Gallery, Shanghai, China (2024); "Echoes", Yuan Art Museum, Beijing, China (2022); "1972-1984 Time, Scenery, Light and Life" / "Sacrifice of the Spring", Platform China Contemporary Art Institute, Beijing, China (2020); "SELF-STATEMENT. Ma Kelu", Platform CHINA, 798 BeiJing, China (2019). His works are in the collections of numerous international public institutions and private collectors, including Tate Modern, the National Museum of China, Hong Kong M+ Museum,He Art Museum, Guangdong Museum of Art, Yuan Art Museum; Yinchuan Museum of Art, Inside-Out Art Museum, and the Mike Evans Collection, among others.