Ma Kelu, born in 1954 in Shanghai, is one of the founding members of the avant-garde artist collective “No Name Group” in 1970s China. Known as a pivotal figure in contemporary Chinese art, Ma developed an innovative career independent of the official art system during the Cultural Revolution. In the late 1980s, he moved to New York, where he received an award from the Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture Art Foundation. He returned to China in 2006 with a broadened perspective and has since continued his exploration of abstraction. Ma currently lives and works in Beijing.
Over the years, Ma Kelu’s artistic journey has taken him across Asia, Europe, and North America. As a highly influential painter, he is celebrated for pushing the boundaries of abstraction and for his ability to balance intellectual exploration with emotional expression in his art. His early works, inspired by en plein air impressionist landscapes, and his later abstract paintings have been exhibited widely across the globe. Many of his pieces are part of prestigious collections in major museums worldwide.
Ma has also played a significant role in landmark exhibitions of Chinese contemporary art, including the first underground exhibition of the “No Name Group” in 1974 and the group’s first public exhibition in 1979. His recent works, such as the Ada series, reflect his continued commitment to individualism and a rejection of traditional artistic conventions, focusing instead on the limitless possibilities of abstraction.