Born in 1962 in Taigu, Shanxi, China, Niu Shuicai began his career in the Navy before transitioning to a prominent role in art education and practice. After graduating from Shanxi University in 1986, he joined Jinzhong College as a teacher, later becoming the Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and an Associate Professor. Niu has extensively explored nature and landscapes in his artwork, striving to blend Eastern and Western artistic traditions through oil painting. His art, known for its vivid colors and emotional depth, transcends traditional figurative painting, offering profound reflections on life and nature. Over the years, Niu has evolved from realism to abstract expressionism, demonstrating a mastery of the medium and a deep connection with viewers through his expressive works.
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Shuicai NIU, graduated from the oil painting program at Shanxi University China in 1982. In 1986, he was assigned to teach at Jinzhong College, where he later served as the Dean of the School of Fine Arts and became an associate professor. He is currently a council member of the Shanxi Oil Painting Association. In 1991, he furthered his studies in decorative painting at the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts. In 2006, he attended art education training at the Central Academy of Fine Arts and Columbia University in the United States. From 2008 to 2009, he undertook advanced training under Professor Dai Shihe at the Central Academy of Fine Arts.
His artistic career is marked by extensive participation in significant exhibitions and numerous awards. The timeline of his achievements is as follows:
2009
- In July, his "Graceful Posture" oil painting was selected for the 15th Shanxi Art Exhibition.
2010
- In June, "Fugen Brothers" was selected for the "Life’s Realities: Oil Portrait Art Exhibition," earning the third prize.
- August saw his participation in the "Extension of Vision" exhibition at the Ningbo Art Museum.
- In November, "Westward Journey" was selected for the 7th Shanxi Oil Painting Landscape Exhibition, winning second prize.
- His work was also featured in the "Shuicai NIU Oil Painting Art Exhibition" hosted by Jinzhong College.
- Additionally, he participated in a school visit exhibition at the Ningbo Art Museum in Zhejiang.
2011
- In May, "Lotus Pond Rhyme" was selected for the 8th Shanxi Oil Painting Landscape Exhibition.
2012
- In May, his oil paintings "Between Heaven and Earth" and "Majestic Mountain Roar" were showcased in the "Dialogue with Nature: Shanxi Chinese Landscape Painting and Oil Painting Scenery Comparison Exhibition."
- In November, "A Thousand Colors Bloom" won the Excellence Award at the Shanxi Art Exhibition, celebrating the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
2013
- His work "Spring Rain" was included in the "Visiting Scholar Art Exhibition" at the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts in Malaysia and was later collected by the Malaysia First Modern Art Museum.
2014
- In July, his oil painting "Sunset" was selected for the 16th Shanxi Art Exhibition.
- In October, "Early Frost" was chosen for the "Our Chinese Dream—Shanxi Art Exhibition."
2015
- In November, "Xiaohe Bay" was selected for the 11th Shanxi Oil Painting Landscape Exhibition.
2016
- In December, "Snowy Liangping Valley" was featured in the "Shanxi, Land of Beauty: China Shanxi Contemporary Oil Painting Invitational Exhibition."
2017
- Participation in the oil painting art exhibition in Italy, organized by the Chinese Oil Painting Creation Institute.
2018
- "Town Street Scene" earned an Excellence Award at the "New Era, New Liulin" Shanxi Province Art Masters Oil Painting Exhibition.
2019
- Hosting of the "Shuicai NIU Oil Painting Art Exhibition" at Jinzhong Chenxing Yijun.
- Presentation of "The Mind Shapes the Scene" oil painting exhibition at the Shanxi Chenxing Yijun Aesthetic Center.
- His work "Celebrating the Harvest" received second prize at the 17th Shanxi Art Exhibition and was also featured in the "Picturesque Jiangnan—China Oil Painting Exhibition."
2021
- In celebration of Shanxi University’s 120th anniversary, he held the "Blossoming—Shuicai NIU Oil Painting Art Invitation Exhibition," displaying nearly 100 works.
- His painting "Golden Mountains of Fenggu" won an Excellence Award at the "Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Communist Party of China—Shanxi Universities’ Teachers and Students Art Exhibition."
- The "Shuicai NIU Oil Painting Art Exhibition" was featured at the Yuci Xiaoxigou Art Festival in Jinzhong.
- Under his mentorship, elementary school students organized the "Artistic Heart Towards the Party—Century of Glory" Impressionistic Oil Painting Art Exhibition at Jinzhong Jinhua 1919.
- The Jinzhong Library also hosted an exhibition of impressionistic oil paintings created by these students.
2022
- Involvement in the "Welcoming Spring: Contemporary Art Joint Exhibition" at Jinzhong Wanda Plaza.
2023
- Participation in the Shanxi provincial oil painting exhibition held in Datong.