Yue Minjun

Yue Minjun (born 1962 in Daqing, China) is a renowned contemporary Chinese painter, sculptor, and printmaker, known for his works depicting himself with his signature smiling face. His paintings, sculptures, and installations feature smiling figures that explore themes of identity, politics, and society, challenging social and cultural conventions in an ironic and cynical manner. Minjun gained international recognition in 1999 when he participated in the 48th Venice Biennale. Since then, he has participated in major biennales and museum exhibitions worldwide, including the Gwangju Biennale and the Shanghai Biennale. His work is included in various public and private collections around the world, such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Guang Dong Museum of Art in China, and the Busan Museum of Art in Korea, among other institutions.