Liu Xiaodong was born in Liaoning in 1963, and graduated from Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing (CAFA) in 1995. The artist has emerged as one of the stars of the last art market boom, who continues to be a favorite among both collectors and museum curators. Liu Xiaodong is painter whose work is known for its “rich colours, strong brush strokes, unusual framing (including cut off heads and limbs) and near perfect technique”.  He often depicts day-to-day reality of unseen China. His subjects have included migrant workers, the homeless and sex workers. In 1990 he began participating in the Chinese Independent Film Movement, staring as the lead role in The Days, which was named one of the top 100 most important international films of the past century by the BBC. Liu Xiaodong was featured along with nine other Chinese artists in “Fresh Ink” at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.