Fang Zhaoling

Chinese painter and calligrapher Fang Zhaoling (1914-2006) was renowned for her vibrant landscapes and detailed images of birds and flowers. Her work was rooted in Chinese traditions, but also greatly shaped by her tumultuous life experiences. Her mother encouraged Fang's interest in art, and as a teenager she went to the U.K. to study. She met and married a fellow Chinese student, and the couple lived in England and the U.S. until the late 1940s when they settled in Hong Kong. Tragically, Fang's husband died, and the 36-year-old mother of eight was left to fend for herself. Her art was put aside for many years, but she eventually resumed her studies and became one of China's foremost artists.