I was born and raised in China. As many people of my generation did, I grew up witnessing a
great tragedy, the Chinese Cultural Revolution. However, I received a valuable private education,
in hiding, from many great capitalist educators during the dark period of the Cultural Revolution.
After the Cultural Revolution, unlike many Chinese people, I had the opportunity to go to college,
earning a BFA in graphic design. However, I hungered to study fine art, so I took every
opportunity to attend as many art classes and workshops that I could. I had numerous
experiences teaching art and working as a practicing artist. My work has been shown widely
throughout China, in museums and galleries in the United States and in a show in Paris. I have
received many awards, and have been featured in newspaper and television interviews in China
and in the United States. My bio is included in the 1999 Chinese “Who’s Who in China.” I have
had a book published about my work and have edited three books in China. In China I worked in
the position of Vice Chairwoman and the director of the painting and photography department for
my district. In my district position, I supervised the directors of ten county art centers
throughout Baoan and Longgang, Shenzhen District, China. I also developed and presided over a
photography organization to help and promote Longgang‘s economic development.
I have one child. When my daughter was a young teenager, I divorced. As a mother, I have always
placed my daughter’s happiness, and success in education and career, over my own. In 1997 my
daughter planned to come to the United States for graduate study after her bachelor degree in
China, so I applied for my U.S. permanent residency from the United States Department of State,
while I was in China. In 1999 I was granted permanent residency under the “alien of extraordinary
abilities” category. My daughter and I then both moved to the U.S. My daughter went on to earn
an MA in hotel management, an MA in statistics, then a Ph.D. in marketing. She now teaches at a
university in Atlanta. In 1999 I met my husband, Matt McDermott, when I lived in Indiana. He
currently teaches in adult education at WKCTC.
Soon after I arrived in the United States, I began the process of continuing my art education,
earning both an MA in painting and an MFA in painting. During my studies, I had the
opportunity to study art history and fresco painting in Florence, Italy.
I love teaching and painting. I taught for five years at Herron School of Art and Design in
Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Art Center, and two years for Kendall College of Art and Design’
s continuing studies program. I also helped to develop and teach Chinese art and Chinese language
classes for children at Chinese schools in Lafayette, Indiana; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Grand
Rapids, Michigan.
Since 2008 I have headed the painting program at the Paducah School of Art in Paducah,
Kentucky. In 2009, the Paducah Renaissance Alliance approved my application to acquire an
empty lot next to my house in Paducah’s historic arts community, Lower Town, for the purpose
of building my gallery/studio. I display my work in the gallery/studio, open to the public, so that
those who view my work may be exposed to a more diverse learning experience in Western
Kentucky.
Since I moved to Kentucky in 2008, I have spoken to various community groups in Paducah and
around Kentucky about my work. I believe my work has benefited Kentucky communities by
presenting on Chinese history, culture and society.
I continue to paint, including expanding upon my series of paintings about Chinese history. I am
also currently working on a book, which will include my stories and images of my paintings.
great tragedy, the Chinese Cultural Revolution. However, I received a valuable private education,
in hiding, from many great capitalist educators during the dark period of the Cultural Revolution.
After the Cultural Revolution, unlike many Chinese people, I had the opportunity to go to college,
earning a BFA in graphic design. However, I hungered to study fine art, so I took every
opportunity to attend as many art classes and workshops that I could. I had numerous
experiences teaching art and working as a practicing artist. My work has been shown widely
throughout China, in museums and galleries in the United States and in a show in Paris. I have
received many awards, and have been featured in newspaper and television interviews in China
and in the United States. My bio is included in the 1999 Chinese “Who’s Who in China.” I have
had a book published about my work and have edited three books in China. In China I worked in
the position of Vice Chairwoman and the director of the painting and photography department for
my district. In my district position, I supervised the directors of ten county art centers
throughout Baoan and Longgang, Shenzhen District, China. I also developed and presided over a
photography organization to help and promote Longgang‘s economic development.
I have one child. When my daughter was a young teenager, I divorced. As a mother, I have always
placed my daughter’s happiness, and success in education and career, over my own. In 1997 my
daughter planned to come to the United States for graduate study after her bachelor degree in
China, so I applied for my U.S. permanent residency from the United States Department of State,
while I was in China. In 1999 I was granted permanent residency under the “alien of extraordinary
abilities” category. My daughter and I then both moved to the U.S. My daughter went on to earn
an MA in hotel management, an MA in statistics, then a Ph.D. in marketing. She now teaches at a
university in Atlanta. In 1999 I met my husband, Matt McDermott, when I lived in Indiana. He
currently teaches in adult education at WKCTC.
Soon after I arrived in the United States, I began the process of continuing my art education,
earning both an MA in painting and an MFA in painting. During my studies, I had the
opportunity to study art history and fresco painting in Florence, Italy.
I love teaching and painting. I taught for five years at Herron School of Art and Design in
Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Art Center, and two years for Kendall College of Art and Design’
s continuing studies program. I also helped to develop and teach Chinese art and Chinese language
classes for children at Chinese schools in Lafayette, Indiana; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Grand
Rapids, Michigan.
Since 2008 I have headed the painting program at the Paducah School of Art in Paducah,
Kentucky. In 2009, the Paducah Renaissance Alliance approved my application to acquire an
empty lot next to my house in Paducah’s historic arts community, Lower Town, for the purpose
of building my gallery/studio. I display my work in the gallery/studio, open to the public, so that
those who view my work may be exposed to a more diverse learning experience in Western
Kentucky.
Since I moved to Kentucky in 2008, I have spoken to various community groups in Paducah and
around Kentucky about my work. I believe my work has benefited Kentucky communities by
presenting on Chinese history, culture and society.
I continue to paint, including expanding upon my series of paintings about Chinese history. I am
also currently working on a book, which will include my stories and images of my paintings.
About BiLan
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