Henry Wo Yue Kee
Chinese, b. 1927
Person TypeIndividual
BiographyHenry Wo is a major painter in the Lingnan-school tradition, developed in south China. Henry Wo Yue-kee was born 1927 in Dongguan, Guangdong province. As a teenager at a middle school Henry Wo captured the attention of art teachers. Ambitious to pursue a career in art, he went to the International Art School of Hong Kong in 1946, where he developed skills of drawing and sketching. In1949 he began to receive training in the studio of Chao Shao-An, a master of the southern Chinese painting tradition known as the Lingnan school. In Henry's words "through many years of dedicated nurturing he [Chao] passed on to me the essence of his style, one that uniquely portrays ancient ideas with a modern spirit." Henry Wo received a teaching certificate in 1955 and began a career as a professional artist and teacher in Hong Kong. In 1975 he moved to Virginia where he continues to paint. Henry Wo has achieved international recognition for his vivid images and beautiful colors typical of the Lingnan tradition.