Faced with Xie Lei’s work, it is tempting to invoke Chinese tradition, to draw on the texts of the Tao, Zhuangzi, or classical poets, and to attempt to interpret his paintings through Chinese maxims or writings. While this exercise is certainly relevant, it also has its limits. Within the duality and ambiguity of his work, the influence of Chinese culture is undeniable. Yet, these paintings are equally rooted in a long Western tradition, nourished in particular by Spanish Baroque and the Romantic movement.
Xie Lei recently spent a year at the Casa Velázquez in Madrid, which allowed him to deepen his knowledge of European art. His achievement lies in a subtle syncretism: he successfully integrates Chinese tradition into his creative process while reflecting a Western perception of the external world. His work reminds us that the invisible is inseparable from the visible, while simultaneously moving beyond the notion of beauty toward the sublime, in a style very much in the spirit of Baudelaire.
By balancing the manifest and the latent, Xie Lei has developed a personal style within a chaotic, noisy world. Silence asserts itself through a harmonious palette of muted tones and delicate color reserves, foreshadowing intense moments of emotion and reflection.
Born in 1983 in Anhui province, China, Xie Lei has lived in Paris for around fifteen years. After graduating from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, he continued his studies at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, earning his degree in 2010. In 2016, he obtained a doctorate in visual arts (ENS Paris – ENSBA Paris). His work has been shown in institutions including MAC/VAL, the National Museum of Immigration History, the Fondation Fernet-Branca, and the Fondation d’entreprise Ricard in France, the Langen Foundation in Neuss, Germany, and the Yishu 8 Foundation in Beijing, China. He has also exhibited with galleries such as Anne de Villepoix in Paris and Mendes Wood DM in São Paulo. In October last year, a solo exhibition was inaugurated at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.
In 2025, Xie Lei was awarded the prestigious Prix Marcel Duchamp by ADIAF. His work is currently on view at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris as part of the exhibition of nominated artists, running until February 22, 2026.
Images by Margot Montigny and Aurélien Mole
