Ma Kelu

Ma Kelu was a founding member of the No Name Group. Guided by an independent and introspective artistic approach, he has continually explored the essence and spirituality of painting. His artistic practice spans several distinct phases, from landscape painting in the 1970s and abstract experimentation in the 1980s to explorations of cultural identity during his years in the United States and a period of deeper introspection after returning to China.

Initially influenced by Impressionism, Ma’s early works focused on the interplay of light and color and the authenticity of personal experience. In the early 1980s, inspired by Western modernism, he gradually developed a distinctive language of abstraction. After moving to the United States in 1988, he immersed himself in Western modern art while reflecting on cultural identity. Works such as the Bada Series and Lotus Scrolls brought traditional Chinese imagery into dialogue with Western modernist language, establishing his distinctive position within contemporary Chinese abstract art.

Following his return to China in 2006, Ma entered a more focused and introspective phase of artistic practice. Beginning in 2016, he developed the A Da series, generating images through physical and intuitive gestures. Moving away from narrative, deliberate technique, and predetermined meaning, he embraced spontaneity and natural emergence as essential elements of the creative process, marking another significant turning point in his career.

His works are held in the collections of major institutions, including the National Museum of China, Tate Modern in the United Kingdom, and M+ in Hong Kong.