At the invitation of Shengxin Yu Art Institution, Anthony Connolly, President of the Royal Society of Portraits, and Anthony Williams, Vice President, will embark on a 9-day cultural exchange journey with China on May 23, 2025. This is the second invitation from the President of the Royal Society of British Painting, Tim Benson, to visit China in 2024. It reflects the continuous and in-depth development of Sino British artistic exchanges between the two countries and highlights the importance of cultural exchange in the current context of globalization.
The Royal Society of Portraits, founded in 1891, has a long history of 134 years and is one of the oldest and most prestigious portrait art institutions in the world. The association brings together top portrait painters from the UK and around the world, such as James Whistler, John Sargent, William Oppen, and other art masters whose works have profoundly influenced the development of modern portrait painting. With the support of the royal family - awarded the title of "Royal" by King George V in 1911, sponsored by Queen Elizabeth II in 1984, and continued by King Charles III in 2024- as well as a rigorous academic system, the association has become an authoritative symbol in the field of portrait art. The association inspires innovation through annual exhibitions and offers high prizes such as the "William Locke Portrait Award" of £ 20000 and the "Ondaj Award" of £ 10000, attracting artists from around the world to participate. In addition, the "People's Portrait Collection" project has been documenting portraits of ordinary people since 2000, showcasing the diversity of British society. The works have been exhibited at the University of Cambridge for a long time, further highlighting its cultural influence.
盛鑫煜艺术机构负责人张鸿宾、季英伦与英国皇家协会主席安东尼·康诺利及夫人在年度展现场合影
盛鑫煜艺术团队与英国皇家肖像画协会副主席安东尼·威廉姆斯以及英国皇家油画家协会主席提姆·本森在年度展现场摩尔画廊前合影
Since 2016, "Sheng Xinyu Art" has established a close cooperative relationship with the Royal Society of British Portraits, opening the door to the international stage for Chinese artists. By recommending Chinese artists to participate in the annual exhibition of the association, many Chinese artists' works were selected and won awards, achieving remarkable results. In 2017, works by Wang Jian and Zhang Hong were selected; In 2018, works by artists such as Di Kexin, Ouyang Guangming, and Yang Shibin were selected; In 2019, Di Xin, Cai Jie, Bai Bingyang and others were selected, and Meng Yun won the "Contemporary Art Trust Award"; In 2020, Liu Shuang won the Sir Ang Darjee Award for her work "Women in the Steinfeld Museum", becoming the first Chinese winner; In 2021, seven artists including Tan Jianwu and Dong Congxian were selected, setting a new historical high; In 2025, works by six artists including Du Hualin and Gu Jinyue will be selected. These achievements not only enhance the international recognition of Chinese artists, but also provide a window for the association to understand the Chinese art ecology, laying the foundation for cooperation between the two sides.
张鸿宾与英国皇家肖像画协会主席安东尼·康诺利在年度展现场交谈
Shengxinyu Art Institution was founded in 2002 with the aim of building a comprehensive international art exchange platform. Its mission is to connect artists from different countries and regions, promote cultural exchange and cooperation through the dissemination of art information, organization of exhibitions, and organization of art competitions. In May 2024, Zhang Hongbin and Ji Yinglun, members of the "Sheng Xinyu Art" team, were invited to London to attend the opening ceremony and award ceremony of the Royal Portrait Society's annual exhibition. They were warmly received by President Connolly and Vice President Williams. Team members had in-depth exchanges with association leaders to explore the contemporary development of portrait painting art, and visited selected outstanding works from around the world in the exhibition. Subsequently, the team visited Williams Studio located on the banks of the Thames River. Williams is famous for his tempera painting technique, and his portrait of Queen Elizabeth II has attracted widespread attention. During the visit, both sides had in-depth discussions on artistic creation and cultural exchange, laying a solid foundation for Connolly and Williams' visit to China in 2025.
2025当代坦培拉国际邀请展暨高峰论坛海报
During this visit, Anthony Connolly and Anthony Williams will bring their personal works to exhibitions held in Beijing and Shanghai. Connolly excels in blending classical techniques with modern aesthetics in portrait and still life paintings, and his works are collected by institutions such as the Royal Collection of Windsor Castle and the United States Military Academy at West Point. Williams is famous for his tempera painting technique and has painted portraits of Queen Elizabeth II. His works have been collected by institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Collection in the United Kingdom. The visit itinerary is rich and diverse, including exhibitions, academic exchanges, educational interactions, and cultural experiences. They will participate in exhibitions held in Beijing and Shanghai, attend two academic forums, visit art schools and have conversations with teachers and students, visit artist studios and art museums, and visit famous historical sites in Beijing and Shanghai. On May 25th, Anthony Connolly, President of the Royal Society of Portraits, and Anthony Williams, Vice President, will participate in the "2025 Contemporary Tampera International Invitation Exhibition and Forum" held in Beijing. The event is jointly organized by the Li Keran Painting Academy Art Training Center, Sheng Xinyu Art, and Shouwen Cultural and Creative Real Estate, aiming to showcase the contemporary development and global influence of Tampera art. From May 26th to 30th, Anthony Connolly and Vice Chairman Anthony Williams will be invited to visit Shanghai and give academic lectures at relevant art colleges in Shanghai.
安东尼·康诺利参展作品
安东尼·威廉姆斯坦培拉作品
据盛鑫煜艺术创始人张鸿宾介绍，本次访问是继2024年“盛鑫煜艺术”邀请英国皇家油画协会主席提姆访华后，又一次重要的中英艺术的民间交流活动。当前国际环境复杂，中国与欧洲国家间的文化艺术合作显得尤为关键。这次访问将进一步提升中国艺术家在国际艺术体系中的地位，同时为英国皇家肖像画协会深入了解中国艺术提供契机，并会促进中英艺术互通、为艺术家提供国际化舞台、激励年轻一代创作、增强艺术领域的发展潜力。协会主席安东尼·康诺利表示，期待通过此次访问，与中国艺术界建立更紧密联系，共同推动肖像画艺术发展。