Bridging Cultures Through Art: Chun Liu Ranked Among LABA’s Global Top Three Most Influential and Valuable Artists 2022 - 2024

Artist Chun Liu

In August 2025, the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA) Biennial International Art Festival announced the final results of its Global Top 10 Most Influential and Most Valuable Artists (LABA-MIMV) awards for 2022–2024. Among the selected honorees, artist Chun Liu (China) emerged in as one of the top three artists, along with Michael Janzen (Canada) in first place and Lilli Müller (United States) in third place, underscoring her growing international influence and cross-cultural impact in the art world.

Official Statement from the LABA Jury Committee

Douglas Ivanovich, Chairman of the LABA International Art Festival judging panel, stated, “After two weeks of careful evaluation, our distinguished panel of judges assessed the artwork, influence, professional achievements, and social contributions of the final nominees for the 2022–2024 Global Top 10 LABA-MIMV Awards. The final voting results were completed and submitted to Jesse J. Weiner, LABA Chief Legal Counsel and Head of Fiduciary Services, at YK Law firm in New York, who officially verified and confirmed the rankings. The top 10 selected artists represent exceptionally high artistic standards across a wide range of genres.”

LABA Biennial International Art Festival - Global Top 10 List Most Influential and Most Valuable Artists Awards 2022-2024

Rosana Largo Rodriguez, CEO of the LABA International Art Festival in Europe and Director of the Museum of Science and Children's Literature in Spain, offered the following evaluation of Chun Liu, "She is a key figure in contemporary cross-cultural dialogue. Her work integrates traditional Chinese aesthetics with modern global perspectives. Her conceptual innovation, refined craftsmanship, and ability to inspire a new generation establish her as a central figure in the LABA International Art Festival.”

Artist Chun Liu

Chun Liu - Honors and Achievements

Chun Liu, founder of Color Ink Painting, holds two master’s degrees and is recognized for her interdisciplinary approach to art. Her innovative style merges Eastern and Western aesthetics while advancing the contemporary evolution of traditional Chinese ink painting. Her accolades include:

• Champion of the China Calligraphy and Painting Spring Festival Gala Competition (2022)

• Art Contribution Award and appointment as Calligraphy and Painting Art Communication Ambassador

• Participation in national exhibitions celebrating the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China

• Selection as a “Contemporary Chinese Art Master” by the Hong Kong Artists Association

• Appointment as CCTV Art Exhibition Visiting Professor and CCTV Special Art Consultant

• Recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage inheritor by an international cultural organization

  
  

Artist Chun Liu

Artist Chun Liu (center)

Artist Chun Liu  (2nd right) with guests at an art exhibition

Artwork by Chun Liu

Artistic Vision and Cultural Impact

Chun Liu’s self-created Color Ink Painting transcends conventional boundaries. Her works feature bold compositions, expressive brushstrokes, and vivid contrasts, combining rice paper traditions with techniques drawn from oil painting and watercolor. Critics have compared her innovation to a synthesis of:

• Liu Haisu, Lin Fengmian, Wu Guanzhong

• Monet, Van Gogh, and Chagall
  

Her landscapes, florals, and ecological themes reflect a deep philosophical engagement with nature, humanity, and environmental responsibility. As former director of Saving the Yellow River, Liu integrates environmental advocacy into her artistic practice.

Artwork by Chun Liu

Liu’s ink and color paintings depict the sublime beauty of nature and express profound human emotions. East and West, tradition and modernity—these seemingly opposing elements coexist harmoniously in Chun Liu's works. Her works break down cultural barriers, becoming a form of cross-cultural artistic expression. As she herself says, the ultimate goal of artistic creation is "to find the origin of beauty." On this path of pursuit, Chun Liu, with her unique ink and color language, outlines a visual world for us that is both familiar and novel, both traditional and contemporary—a world without cultural walls, only the resonance of the soul.

Attendees at art exhibition with artist Chun Liu (center)

Art exhibition for Chun Liu

Attendees view artwork by Chun Liu at art exhibition

Chun Liu's works have the following notable characteristics and styles: 

 1.  Fusion of East and West: Liu's works blend the essence of traditional Chinese painting with Western painting, retaining the charm and artistic conception of Eastern art while incorporating the colors and expressiveness of Western art. This fusion gives her works a unique artistic charm and aesthetic value. 

2. Expressionism: Liu's works exhibit characteristics of expressionism. She strives to reveal the essence of things through her brushstrokes, pursuing the pure and unadorned beauty of nature. In her paintings, the soul is paramount to form; every stroke and every color embodies her pursuit of beauty and her reflections on life. 

3. Strong Contrast: Liu’s  works often feature strong contrasts in the use of color and ink. This contrast not only enhances the visual impact of the painting but also makes the works more vivid and interesting. 

4. Profound Themes: Liu's works often contain profound themes and meanings. Through art, she conveys deep reflections on life, nature, and society, evoking resonance and contemplation in the viewer. Liu's ink and color paintings not only break the boundaries between Chinese and Western painting but also inject new vitality into the development of contemporary art. Many artists and viewers have highly praised her works, believing that they possess unique artistic charm and aesthetic value. 

Artist Todd Williamson, LABA Board member, with artist Chun Liu by international video conference, at a gallery opening in Los Angeles, California

International Exhibitions and Institutional Recognition

Chun Liu’s work has been exhibited and collected internationally, including:

• European Museum of Modern Art, Barcelona

• China Audit Museum

• Picasso Museum, Madrid (stamp collections)

• Barcelona Football Museum

  
  

Her solo exhibition commemorating the 50th Anniversary of China–Spain Diplomatic Relations in Barcelona received widespread acclaim from artists, scholars, and government officials.

Professor Jin Shangyi, former President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, described her work, “Drawing from the best of both East and West, her color-ink painting embodies a profound artistic spirit and cultural depth.”

TV host Joey Zhou, founder of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA), with artist Chun Liu (iPad) during an interview by international video conference

Interview with LABA Founder Joey Zhou

Host Jackie Lewis:“What distinguishes the second edition of the LABA International Art Festival from the first, and why did Chun Liu achieve such outstanding results?”

Joey Zhou, TV host and founder of LABA: “Both editions applied the same rigorous criteria, with influence as the most critical factor. Without international recognition, an artist cannot reach the LABA finals. Ms. Liu consistently demonstrated high online visibility, and her second-place global ranking was well deserved.”

In conclusion, Chun Liu’s placement in the top three among LABA's Global Top 10 Most Influential and Most Valuable Artists marks a defining milestone in her career and reinforces her role as a bridge between cultures in the global art world. "If the future economy is an economy of influence, then the future of art will undoubtedly be an art of influence!"

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