GUAN WEI has a significant international reputation as a contemporary artist whose work crosses cultural and political borders, specifically between Australia and Asia. A Chinese national who migrated to Australia in 1989, his practice which spans more than 30 years draws on his personal experience of both Chinese and Australian culture, as well as an informed socio-political awareness and knowledge of art history. With a consummate ability to create work at once light in tone and profound in message, his prolific creative output has consistently examined complex social issues underpinned by humility and a deep respect for humanity. Across painting, sculpture and installation, his work conveys profound stories of loss, migration, identity, and notions of boundaries and place, interweaving an understanding of tradition and the past in the face of overwhelming global change today.

Guan WeiI was born 1957, Beijing, China. In 1989, three years after graduating from the Department of Fine Arts at Beijing Capital University, he came to Australia to take up an artist-in-residence at the Tasmanian School of Art. He was invited to undertake two further residencies: one at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney (1992), the other at the Canberra School of Art, Australian National University (1993). Since then he obtained many grants, including Australia Council’s grant for Greene St New York studio in 2003, Cite International des Arts Paris in 2007 & Fellowship in 2008-2009. In 2008 he set up a studio in Beijing. Now he lives and works in both Beijing and Sydney.

Guan Wei has won many awards, including the 2015 Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize, Bendigo Art Gallery, 2002 Sulman Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, and was selected for the prestigious 2009 Clemenger Contemporary Art Award, National Gallery of Victoria. Solo exhibitions include: Guan Wei: A Case Study, Museum of Art & Culture Lake Macquarie, 2020; Guan Wei: MCA Collection, MCA, Sydney, 2019; Cosmotheoria, White Box Art Centre, Beijing: Salvation, ARC ONE Gallery, 2014; Archaeology, ARC ONE Gallery, 2014; Spellbound, He Xiang Ning Art Museum, OCT Contemporary Art Terminal, Shenzhen, China, 2011; The Enchantment, ARC ONE Gallery, 2012; Other histories: Guan Wei’s fable for a contemporary world, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, 2006–07; Looking, Greene St Studio, New York, 2003; Zen Garden, Sherman Contemporary, Sydney, 2000; and Nesting, or the Art of Idleness 1989–1999, MCA, Sydney, 1999.

Major group exhibitions include: Between Two Worlds, Newcastle Art Gallery, 2019; Closing the Distance, Bundoora Homestead Art Centre, Bundoora, Victoria; Borders, Barriers, Walls, Monash University Museum of Art, Melbourne, 2016; Collaborative Witness: Artists responding to the plight of the refugee, University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane, 2011; Shanghai Biennial, Shanghai Museum, China, 2010; 10th Havana Biennial, Cuba, 2009; The China Project, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, 2009; Handle with Care, Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, Adelaide, 2008; Face Up: Contemporary Art from Australia, Hamburger Bahnhof Museum, Berlin, 2003–04; Sulman Prize Exhibition, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, 2002; Osaka Triennial, Japan, 2001; Man and Space, Kwangju Biennale, South Korea, 2000; Third Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, 1999. Key collections include: Art Gallery of New South Wales; Art Gallery of South Australia; Art Bank, BHP Billiton Collection; Contemporary Art and Culture Centre, Osaka, Japan; Deutsche Bank; Ian Potter Museum, Melbourne; Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; and Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Guan Wei’s works feature in the collections of numerous important institutions both in Australia and abroad.

2021
A Digital Age, ARC ONE Gallery, Melbourne

2020
Guan Wei: A Case Study, Museum of Art & Culture Lake Macquarie

2019
Essence, Energy, Spirit, Australia-China Institute for Arts and Culture, Sydney
Guan Wei: MCA Collection, MCA, Sydney 2018 Chivalry, ARC ONE Gallery, Melbourne.
Unexpected Histories, The University of Chicago Center in Beijing

2017
Cosmotheoria, White Box Art Center 798 Art District Beijing
Reflection, Martin Browne Contemporary Sydney

2016
Guan . Perspective, Scene Sense Art Gallery, Beijing
Bird, Map, Shadow, Heiser Gallery QLD Australia
Salvation, ARC ONE Gallery, Melbourne.
Off - See. An Ephemeral Coincidence of Past and Present Impression the Eminence, Wah Shun White Netherlands Academy of Arts, Beijing.

2015
Panorama, Art of Guan Wei, Jia Pingwa Cultural Museum of Art Xi’an china From Stars To Soul, Martin Browne Contemporary, Sydney
The Great Southern World, Nancy Sever Gallery, Canberra
Guan Wei & Wayne Warren Crossing Lines, ACME Project Space London

2014
Archaeology, ARC ONE Gallery, Melbourne. How Far, Heiser Gallery Brisbane.
From the water to the sky, Glasshouse Port Macquarie Regional Gallery NSW

2013
Twinkling Galaxies, Martin Browne Contemporary, Sydney.
Enigma Space, Moonlight 8 Gallery, Suzhou, China

2012
The Enchantment, ARC ONE Gallery, Melbourne.

2011
Spellbound, He Xiang Ning Art Museum, OCT Contemporary Art Terminal Shenzhen, China.
Bird Island, Chan Hampe Galleries, Singapore.
Play on the Beach, Martin Browne Contemporary, Sydney.
The New Classic of the Mountains and Seas, Red Gate Gallery, Beijing, China.

2010
Cloud in the sky, Water in the bottle Shumu Art Space, Beijing. Cloud, ARC ONE Gallery Melbourne, Australia.

2009
Fragments of History, Kaliman Gallery, Sydney, Australia. Longevity for Beginners, 10 Chancery lanes Gallery Hong Kong.

2008
Zodiac, Turner Galleries Perth, Australia.

2007
Day After Tomorrow, Red Gate Gallery 798 Village Beijing.
A Mysterious Land, ARC ONE Gallery, Melbourne, Australia.

2006
Other Histories: Guan Wei’s Fable for a Contemporary World, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
A Distant Land, Contemporary Art Centre of South Australia, Adelaide Jiang Hu, Liverpool Regional Museum, Sydney.
Echo, Sherman Galleries, Sydney

2005
Secret Histories, ARC ONE Gallery, Melbourne, Australia

2004
Looking for Enemies, Sherman Galleries, Goodhope, Sydney.
Prediction-Reflection, The Church Gallery, Perth International Arts Festival.

2003
Looking, Greene St Studio, New York.
A Passage to Australia, photospace School of Art ANU Canberra.

2002
Dao Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, Singapore.
Island, Sherman Galleries Goodhope, Sydney.
Exotic Flowers & Rare Grasses, Sherman Galleries Hargrave, Sydney.

2001
Studio Show, Parks Victoria, Warrandyte, Melbourne.

2000
Horoscope, Red Gate Gallery, Beijing.
Domino, Arrivals, Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival. Zen Garden, Sherman Galleries, Sydney.
Looking for Home, Earllu Gallery, Singapore.

1999
Floating, Sherman Gallery, Sydney.
Nesting, or Art of Idleness, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. Span Galleries, Melbourne.

1998
Revisionary, Drill Hall Gallery, The Australian National University. Internal Circulation, Red Gate Gallery, Beijing China.

1997
The Last Supper, Tokyo Gallery, Tokyo Japan. ex/inspire, Sherman Galleries, Goodhope, Sydney.
Anonymous Invader, Sydney Grammar School, Sydney.

1996
Return to Paradise, Red Gate Gallery, Beijing China.
Umbrella Studio, Townsville North Queensland.
Magic Garden, Hanart T Z Gallery, Hong Kong.

1995
Treasure Hunt, Sherman Galleries, Goodhope, Sydney.

1994
The Great War of the Eggplant, Drill Hall Gallery, The Australian National University.

1993
Test Tube Baby, Sherman Galleries, Sydney.

1992
The Living Specimen, Plimsoll Gallery University of Tasmania Hobart.
Guan Wei Solo Exhibition, Dick Bett Gallery, Hobart.

1991
Guan Wei Solo Exhibition, Waverly City Gallery, Melbourne.
Guan Wei Solo Exhibition, Hobart Despard Street Gallery, Hobart.
Guan Wei Solo Exhibition, Plimsoll Gallery University of Tasmania Hobart.
Guan Wei Solo Exhibition, Photo Space School of Fine Art in the Australian National University, Canberra.

1989
Guan Wei Solo Exhibition, French Embassy, Beijing.

2017
Finalist, Wynne Prize, AGNSW.
Highly Commended Award, Hadley’s Art Prize, Hobart, Tasmania. Visiting Artist, LongLi Multi-media Art project, Guizhou Province, China

2016
Finalist, Archibald Prize, AGNSW.
Finalist, National Self-Portrait Prize, UQ Art Museum.

2015
Awarded 2015 Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize. Finalist, Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, Sydney.
Artist in residence at Henriot Quimper, France
Grant, Australia Council, artist-in-residence at ACME London

2014
Artist in residence at Jun Jun studio Jing De Zhen, ceramic city China.
Artists’ Camp, “Looking for Spirits” Lipo Guizhou China.

2012
Artist in residence at Ah Ming studio Jing De Zhen, ceramic city, China.

2011
Artist-in-residence at He Xiang Ning Art Museum, OCT Contemporary Art Terminal, Shenzhen, China.

2010
Artist-in-residence at The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation USA.

2008-10
Fellowship Grant Australia Council & set up a studio in Beijing.

2007
Ambassador 2007 City of Sydney Chinese New Year Festival.
Grant, Australia Council, artist in residence at Cite International des Art, Paris.

2006
Artists’ Camp, Gunbalanya (Oenpelli), Western Amhem Land, through 24HR Art, Darwin (Australia Council Grant)
Artist-in-residence Campbelltown Arts Centre Sydney.

2005
Australian – China Council residence grant at Taipei Artist Village.

2003
Grant, Australia Council, artist-in-residence Greene St New York.
Visiting Fellowship, Canberra School of Art Australia National University, Canberra.

2002
Awarded 2002 Sulman Prize NSW Art Gallery.

2001
Awarded 2001 Mosman Art Prize Sydney.
Awarded 2001, 39th Festival of Fisher’s Ghost, Campbelltown Art Gallery Sydney. Artist-in-residence Bundanon Trust Nowra NSW.
Artist-in-residence Parks Victoria VIC.
Artist-in-residence Casula Power House Museum NSW.

2000
Grant from Asia Link Australia.
Artist-in-residence, Lasalle SIA College of the Arts, Singapore.

1999
Awarded 1999 Nillumbik Art Award VIC Australia.
Awarded 1999 Geelong Print Prize.
Awarded 1999 Rena Elen Jones Memorial Print Award.
Artist-in-Residence Queensland College of Art, Griffith University.

1998
Grant, Australia Council. Art Prize 1998 Gold Coast City Gonrad Jupiters Art Prize.
Visiting Fellowship, Canberra School of Art Australia National University, Canberra.

1997
Artist-in-Residence, Sydney Grammar School.
Awarded 1997 Australian Print media Art Prize, University of Western Sydney, Nepean.
Awarded 1997 Biennial art Exhibition diary, The Southland Entertainment centre, Sydney.
One of the eight artist commissioned to produce the fine art limited edition prints for the Sydney 2000 Olympic poster program.

1996
Curatorial Team Member, the Second Asia-Pacific of Contemporary Art Triennial Queensland Art Gallery.

1995
Grant, Australia Council.

1994
Awarded 1994 Gold Coast City Gonrad Jupiters Art Prize.

1993
Artist-in-Residence, Canberra School of Art, Australian National University Canberra.

1992
Artist-in-Residence, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney.

1990-91
Artist-in-Residence, Tasmanian School of Art, University of Tasmania, Hobart.

1990
Grant, Australia Council.

1989
Artist-in-Residence, Tasmanian School of Art, University of Tasmania, Hobart.

2018
Lunar Lanterns, Chinese New Year Festival, Sydney Trophy Design, Golden Wattle Awards

2017
Treasure Hunt, Commisiion for The Australian Tapestry Workshop, Melbourne.

2015
Commissioned by Fairfax Digital Australia & New Zealand Pty Limited to do cover art work for The Sydney Morning herald, The age, and The Canberra Times to celebrate Chinese New Year

2013
The Journey to Australia, Commission for MCA mural, Sydney

2004
Feng Shui, Mural Painting, 700 Collins St, Docklands Melbourne.
Paper War, SBS & Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne.

Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery of South Australia
Australian Art Bank
Australian Embassy, Beijing
Australian National University, Canberra
Australia Asian Link art fund committee
Australia BHP Billiton
Contemporary Art and Culture Centre, Osaka, Japan
Campbelltown Art Gallery Sydney
Casula Art Gallery, Sydney
Deutsche Bank’s collection
Geelong Gallery VIC, Australia
Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Queensland
Griffith University, Queensland
Hanart TZ Gallery, Hong Kong
Ian Potter Gallery, Melbourne University
Lake Macquarie Council
Monash University VIC, Australia
Mornington Pensinsula Regional Gallery VIC, Australia
Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
Museum of Northern Territory
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
National Gallery of Victoria
Nillumbik Art Gallery VIC Australia
Powerhouse Museum Sydney
Parliament House Canberra, Australia.
Parks Victoria Melbourne VIC
Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane
Sydney Grammar School
The State Library of Victoria
Tokyo Gallery Japan
University of Queensland
University of New South Wales,Sydney
University of Tasmania, Australia
University of Technology, Sydney
University of Western Sydney, Nepean
Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) in Beijing
He Xiang Ning Art Museum, China
Western Australian Art Gallery, Perth
Wesfarmers West Australia
White Box Gallery 798, Beijing
Yuz Museum Shanghai.
Private collections