CHICAGO.-The Johnsonese Gallery presents a retrospective of ten years of sculpture made-in-America by Chinese artist Shencheng Xu thru October 6, 2007. Xu completed over a dozen monumental works in China before arriving in the US. Incorporating figurative art in the contemporary age is his passion. Xu currently teaches at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. Several of his past winning works from public sculpture competitions are included in our gallery show. The show also includes installations designed specifically for our gallery space as well as smaller, pedestal-sized sculptures.

Xu's work has stayed true to his roots as a classically trained Chinese sculptor. Yet you can further see the evolution of his work as an immigrant outsider in America and also as a parent. Xu uses a variety of organic and synthetic materials for his sculptures, while employing traditional techniques to address contemporary issues. The work has been described as anthropomorphic, polymorphic, and chimerical. His trademark is a 'universal' face, which may be interpreted as any or all races, ages and sexes. Nearly all of his works incorporate this face.

In Xu's words, "Traditional elements and strict training play an important role in my work, but that cannot prevent me from exploring and studying contemporary art. To create a specific form is no longer my main focus. I am trying to find vitality from each piece of material."

Shencheng Xu received his MFA in Sculpture from the Maryland Institute College of Art's Rinehart School of Sculpture in 2001. That same year, he received the "Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award" from the International Sculpture Center. Xu earned a BFA in Sculpture from China's Luxun Academy of Fine Arts in 1993. He has had numerous solo and group exhibitions both in United States and in China. His artworks have been published in "Sculpture" and several other art periodicals.

Xu has both influenced and been influenced by the art world in Chicago. Certainly through his teaching at Northeastern Illinois University and his public sculptures, he has influenced other Chicago artists. And perhaps the defining characteristic of Chicago artists-creating craftsmanly work-has impacted Xu. He has focused on creating a substantial body of outstanding artworks during his time in America and Chicago. Xu states, "Although I cannot know what will happen next, I know what I learned here will stay with me throughout my life."

The Johnsonese Gallery presented Xu's work to a broad American audience at the Bridge Art Fair Chicago in April of 2007. This event set the stage for our retrospective show. Together the artist and the gallery have published a catalog of Xu's work since his migration to America. The goal of the catalog and the show is to highlight ten years of evolution by one amazing artist, and also hopefully ten years of growing cultural links across the world.

The Johnsonese Gallery, located at 2149 W. Armitage in Chicago's historic Bucktown neighborhood, specializes in progressive contemporary art.