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Wednesday, June 10, 2026 · No. 160
Artist Profile

Liu Bolin

Liu Bolin is a Chinese contemporary artist internationally recognized for his 'Hiding in the City' series, in which he paints his body to camouflage himself perfectly into various urban and cultural backdrops.

Biography

Born in Shandong, China, Liu Bolin received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Shandong College of Arts in 1995 and later completed his Master of Fine Arts at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing in 2001. He gained widespread attention for his performance-based photography, which began as a reaction to the demolition of his artist studio village in Beijing ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games.

His signature practice involves meticulously painting his own body to blend into complex environments, effectively rendering himself an invisible man within the frame. These photographic works explore themes of social identity, environmental change, and the relationship between the individual and the rapidly evolving urban landscape.

Liu's work has been the subject of numerous international exhibitions, cementing his reputation as a significant figure in contemporary performance and conceptual photography. His practice continues to be studied for its technical precision and its commentary on the intersection of human presence and architectural space.

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Notable Works

  • Hiding in the City · 2005Photography and performance art
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From The Cultural Signal

Uffizi Galleries Expands Collection and Exhibition Programming Through 'Disseminating Art' Project

Uffizi Galleries Expands Collection and Exhibition Programming Through 'Disseminating Art' Project

The Uffizi Galleries has expanded its permanent collection with the acquisition of Francesco Hayez’s 'Portrait of Colonel Arese Lucini in prison' and the addition of photographic self-portraits by Giuseppe Penone, Ilaria Sagaria, and Liu Bolin.

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