Obituary

Mr. Xu Mangyao, a distinguished contemporary Chinese oil painter, renowned art educator and leading representative of Chinese realist oil painting, Honorary Dean and former Dean of the College of Fine Arts, Shanghai Normal University, as well as Doctoral Supervisor at the China Academy of Art, passed away in Beijing at 6:46 on June 2, 2026, at the age of 81, after losing his battle with illness.

In his early years, Mr. Xu pursued further studies in France, immersing himself in 19th-century academic oil painting. He dedicated his entire life to the creation and teaching of traditional European oil painting, standing as an iconic figure who carried forward the legacy and blazed new trails for contemporary Chinese realist oil painting.

For several years Mr. Xu served as a jury member for the International Salon Competition hosted by the Art Renewal Center (ARC), the world’s largest realist art competition. His lifelong artistic pursuits and practices are fully aligned with the mission of ARC. For many years, he collaborated with fellow artists worldwide to advance the revival of international realist art.

Throughout his decades-long teaching career, he upheld the philosophy that "Craftsmanship embraces humanity".

He believed painting is first and foremost a craft that demands devotion, diligence and exquisite skill, and always encouraged students to think independently and stay true to themselves rather than follow the crowd blindly. He made remarkable contributions to the development and heritage of realist art across China and the globe, and cultivated numerous outstanding art professionals.

The art communities at home and abroad have suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of Mr. Xu Mangyao.

This obituary is hereby announced.