Yanran Chen to Unveil First Solo Exhibition in China at ART FOCUS Beijing

Yanran Chen's inaugural large-scale solo exhibition in China, curated by actor and "Art Knock" founder Yuan Hong, will take place at Art Focus Beijing from 23 May to 6 July 2025.

Tang Contemporary Art has announced its new initiative — ART FOCUS — an immersive art venue set to premiere on 23 May 2025. The inaugural exhibition features young artist Yanran Chen in her maiden solo show in China, titled “Neon Dreamland.” LUXUO has lately explored the oeuvre of Artist Yanran Chen, also known as Chloe Chen, who has established a reputation in the art sector for her distinctive cross-disciplinary works that integrate illustration and sculpture. Following her inaugural solo exhibition in Tokyo in 2023, she has showcased her work in locations such as Shanghai, Hong Kong, Budapest, and Las Vegas. Chen has partnered with prominent brands including GUCCI, Balenciaga, and ARTnews, and acts as a brand ambassador for LEUCHTTURM1917 while also serving as a co-branded artist for ROBBi. She now returns to her hometown of Beijing, signifying a significant new phase in her burgeoning worldwide career.

A Dual Exploration of Surrealism and Speculative Futures

The exhibition is divided into two theme areas that illustrate the diverse aspects of Chen's artistic approach. A portion is dedicated to her personal efforts, encompassing unique paintings and sculptural creations. Notable works including “The Mechanical Lifeform” and “Dinner,” previously exhibited at ComplexCon LA, merge hyper-saturated colors with surreal, dreamlike storylines, examining gender, fantasy, and the intricate relationships between humanity and machinery.

The latter portion of the exhibition presents a collaboration series by Yanran Chen and the animation label WaarWorld, influenced by Liu Cixin’s esteemed science fiction classic “The Supernova Era.” The whole "Players Series" makes its premiere in China, featuring six character-based collector sculptures and Q-version miniatures. These creations amalgamate post-human futurism with a consciously paradoxical style – whimsical yet dismal, polished yet subversive.

A Reimagined Cinematic Universe: WaarWorld’s “The Playpower Collection”

This part captivates viewers with a cinematic-quality setting, immersing them in WaarWorld’s innovative “Playpower Collection.” The series intricately intertwines vivid characters and speculative narratives, merging the realms of animation, sculpture, and futuristic myths.

ART FOCUS: Redefining Immersive Art in Beijing's 798 District

Situated in the renowned 798 Art District, ART FOCUS serves as an innovative platform that challenges conventional gallery models. Emphasizing digital integration, interactive design, and educational activities, it establishes itself as an experimental incubator for the future of contemporary art. Chen's exhibition signifies the ambitious inauguration of the venue, reflecting its commitment to fostering innovative talent and promoting interdisciplinary collaborations.

Beijing and its Surroundings

The exhibition coincides with the inauguration of Beijing Art Season, a citywide event co-founded by ART021 BEIJING, Beijing Contemporary Art Expo, and Beijing Gallery Week. The effort, via coordinated programming among prominent institutions and grassroots organizations, converts the capital into a vibrant center for art, design, and street culture during May.

Yanran Chen

Chinese multidisciplinary artist Yanran Chen made her solo debut in Tokyo at the age of 18, enthralling audiences with strange creations that interrogate the limits between dream and form. Since that time, her unique visual language has secured her participation in international art shows such as ART021 and the Budapest Art Fair. In 2025, she became the youngest partner in Gucci's illustrious history, reinterpreting historic sculptures for the exhibition "Gucci Bamboo, Decoding An Icon," a project that resonated throughout the fashion and art realms.

Chen was appointed the inaugural Chinese Creative Inspiration Ambassador for the German stationery brand Leuchtturm1917, collaborating on the design of the “Fantasy Realm” notebook collection, which merges imaginative storytelling with tactile aesthetics. A prominent figure at ComplexCon, her cult-status art toys and partnerships with brands such as Robbi have solidified her allure among Gen Z collectors around Asia, particularly in Thailand. Her notable works — “Fantasy Plastic Bag,” “Nightmare Robot,” and “Fictional Self” — investigate themes of biomechanical aesthetics, speculative identity, and emotional surrealism, highlighting her emerging prominence as one of the region's most intriguing young artists.

The specifics of the exhibition are as follows:

Duration: May 23 – July 6, 2025

Venue: ART FOCUS, Tang Contemporary Art, 798 Art District, Beijing