Early Life and Education
Liu Xiaodong was born in 1963 in Jincheng, Liaoning Province, China. At the age of 17, he moved to Beijing to study art at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA). He obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in oil painting in 1988 and a Master of Fine Arts in oil painting in 1995, both from CAFA. He furthered his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, from 1998 to 1999.
Rise to Success and Career
Liu Xiaodong is a celebrated contemporary Chinese artist known for his large-scale paintings depicting modern life. He focuses on human figures within settings that evoke global issues such as environmental crises and economic hardship. He began his career working in tobacco and flavoring companies, co-founding the predecessor of Shanghai Bairun in 1997. Liu Xiaodong's career has included roles as the chairman of Shanghai Bairun Investment Holding Group, a maker of alcopop beverages. He has been a professor in the painting department at CAFA, where he still teaches.
Key Business Strategies
Liu is the chairman of Shanghai Bairun Investment Holding Group, a maker of alcopop beverages. Bairun acquired domestic alcopop supplier Shanghai Bacchus in an all-stock transaction in June 2015, boosting Bairun's business. Liu's wealth increased following gains in the share price of his Shenzhen-listed company due to the planned acquisition.
Philanthropy
Information regarding specific amounts and initiatives for philanthropy is unavailable. However, his art often reflects a deep concern for contemporary social issues.