Born in Tianjin, China, Dong Yang’s early life was a tapestry of intellectual pursuits, his family comprising engineers, teachers and doctors. Yet, it was his grandfather’s collection of European sculptures, paintings and photos that cast a magical spell over Yang. This treasure trove of art ignited his imagination and, by 5 years old, he was fashioning delicate models of animals from plasticine.
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Snake River – Yellowstone National Park, oil on canvas, 24 x 36"
His formative years led him to the Tianjin Art and Crafts School, and later, the Central Academy of Arts in Beijing, where he studied under Qian Shan Wu, dean of the sculpture faculty. Qian, recognizing Yang’s talent, took him as his assistant and, together, they embarked on an eight-year odyssey of public sculpture creation, a period that profoundly shaped Yang’s artistic voice.
In 1996, Yang moved to Shanghai, where his career blossomed. One of his early sculptures, Happy Family, found its home at the entrance of East Nanjing Road, a success soon followed by Clock and Equestrian - Beyond,both prominently displayed in Shanghai’s 80,000-seat stadium. The Equestrian, commissioned for the Beijing Olympics, garnered the accolade of best public sculpture in the Wangfujing Commercial District.
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Dong Yang in his studio working on the sculpture Galloping Gracefully.
Yang’s hands breathed life into many other significant works, including a pair of lion sculptures, one of which stands sentinel at the historic HSBC bank at The Bund in Shanghai. His works intertwine a classical sculptural language with the rich, humanistic qualities of Eastern philosophy.
Yang’s sculptures are a profound expression of the rigorous style and logical precision of figurative art, imbued with his reflections on the nature of life.
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Afar, bronze, 122 x 118 x 47"
Now residing in Orange County, California, Yang continues to weave his artistic narratives, creating sculptures and paintings that resonate with the essence of life and nature. You can see more of Yang's work at Booth A18 at the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show in Laguna Beach, California, from July 3 through August 30. —
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(628) 468-7103
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Facebook: /Yang Dong
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