1924
Born in Shanghai, China
1945
Graduated from St. John’s University, Shanghai with Bachelor degree in Economics
1946
Reporter for Peace Daily Shanghai
1947
Married to Peace Daily Chief Editor, Evan Yang Yanqi
1949
Moved to Taipei, Taiwan and had her first son, Michael Yang
Later moved to Hong Kong and worked as freelance writer
1950
Had first daughter, Julia Yang
1954
Had second daughter Catherine Yang
Studied Chinese ink painting under the tutelage of Lingnan master Zhao Shao’ang
1960s
Experimented with various types of paints, including oil, acrylic and water-colour on Chinese paper(xuan zhi)
1964
Started qigong meditation
1968
Involved in the study of “New Ink Painting Movement” under the guidance of Lu Shoukun
Solo-exhibition, City Hall, Hong Kong
21st Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, London
Contemporary Hong Kong Art, Museum of Art, Hong Kong
1970
22nd Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, London
1971
Art Now Hong Kong, tour to London, Edinburgh, Bristol and Manchester, U.K.
Solo-exhibition, US Cultural Centre, Hong Kong
1972
Exhibition of the International Society of Plastic & Audio-Visual Art (SPAA)
Group-exhibition: Contemporary Chinese Ink Painting in Tao, Hong Kong
Art Now Hong Kong, Evansville Museum, Hong Kong
Won the Pacificulture Asia Museum Fine Art Award
1975
Cleveland International Drawing Biennial, London
Contemporary Hong Kong Art, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
Five Artists Exhibition, National Fine Arts Museum, Taiwan
Hong Kong Artists 1975, St. John’s Hall, Hong Kong
Hong Kong Painters, Luz Gallery, Manila, Philippines
1976
1976 Critics’ Choice, St. John’s Hall, Hong Kong
Art ’76, Fung Ping Shan Museum, The University of Hong Kong
Solo-exhibition, Quorum Gallery, Hong Kong
1977
Fine Choice, Hong Kong Exhibition, Hong Kong
Hong Kong Arts Centre Inaugural exhibition, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong
Solo-exhibition, Raya Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Women Artists, City Hall, Hong Kong
Art - The Visual Experience, Hong Kong
1978
Chou’s husband passed away and the ‘70s marked a sombre period forher which reflected
in her paintings
Fine Choice, Hong Kong Exhibition, Hong Kong
One Art Group, Hong Kong
Art ’78, Fung Ping Shan Museum, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
1979
Fine Choice, Hong Kong Exhibition, Hong Kong
One Art Group, National Museum, Singapore
Hong Kong Contemporary Art, Raya Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
1980
Fine Choice, Hong Kong Exhibition, Hong Kong
One Art Group, National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan
Recollections & Visions of Contemporary Chinese Artists, Yoland Gallery, Chicago, U.S.A
1981
Fine Choice, Hong Kong Exhibition, Hong Kong
Solo-exhibition, Raya Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Art ’81, Fung Ping Shan Museum, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Contemporary Art of Chinese Intellectuals, City Hall, Hong Kong
Inaugural Exhibition, Japan International Artists Society
Hong Kong Art 1970-1980, Hong Kong Museum of Art
1982
Fine Choice, Hong Kong Exhibition, Hong Kong
Contemporary Art from Hong Kong, Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Philippines
International Association of Ink Painters, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia & Seoul
Contemporary Vision of Landscape, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
Contemporary Hong Kong Artist, University of Cincinnati, U.S.A.
1983
Fine Choice, Hong Kong Exhibition, Hong Kong
Solo-exhibition, City Gallery, Manila, Philippines
Art ’83, Fung Ping Shan Museum, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
The Experience of Art, Hugh Moss Collection, Hong Kong
Contemporary Art of the Eighties, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong
Women Artists’ Show, Hong Kong Women’s Arts Council, Hon Kong
Contemporary Hong Kong Art Biennial, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
Won Urban Council Fine Arts Award for Painting (Chinese media)
1984
Fine Choice, Hong Kong Exhibition, Hong Kong
Academy Award Winner’s Exhibition, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
1985
Fine Choice, Hong Kong Exhibition, Hong Kong
Foundation Prince Pierre De Monaco Exhibition, Monte-Carlo National Museum, Monaco
Solo-exhibition, Charlotte Horstmann & Gerald Godfrey, Hong Kong
Contemporary Hong Kong Art Biennial, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
1986
Fine Choice, Hong Kong Exhibition, Hong Kong
University Art Collection Show, Fung Ping Shan Museum, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Art 1986, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
International Contemporary Ink Paintings, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong
Kong.
Solo-exhibition, Fung Ping Shan Museum, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
1987
Solo-exhibition, A Libertacao da Tinta, Museum Luis de Camoes, Macau, Hong
Kong.
1988
The XXII International Prix of Contemporary Art, Monte Carlo, Monaco
Hong Kong Modern Art, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
Ink Painting by Hong Kong Artists, Barbican Centre, London, U.K.
Solo-exhibition, Hanart Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
Won Hong Kong Artists’ Guild Painter of the Year Award
1989
The Fourth Asian International Art Exhibition, Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art, Korea
Thirteen Well-Known Hong Kong Painters, Nagoya, Japan
Hong Kong Modern Art, The Institute for the Promotion of Chinese Culture, Hong
Kong
1990
ArtWorks of Hong KongWomen Artists, The Institute for the Promotion of Chinese
Culture, Hong Kong
1991
Six Contemporary Chinese Women Artists, San Francisco, U.S.A.
Solo-exhibition, Godfrey Far East Art, London, U.K.
Recent Painting of Irene Chou & Hon Chi-Fun, The Rotunda, Exchange Square, Hong Kong
1992
Chinese Art 1992, Godfrey Far East art, London, U.K.
Contemporary Hong Kong Art Biennial, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
1993
Inaugural Exhibtion of the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Queensland
Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia.
Art Asia 1993, Hong Kong International Fine Art Expositions, Hong Kong
1994
Solo-exhibition, The Kenneth & Yasuko Myer Collection of Contemporary Asian
Art, Myer Centre, Brisbane, Australia
Art Asia 1994, Hong Kong International Fine Art Expositions, Hong Kong
Solo-exhibition, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
1995
Solo-exhibition, Cat Street Galleries, Hong Kong
Lingo- Getting the Picture, Brisbane City Hall Gallery, Brisbane, Australia.
1996
Solo-exhibition, Ancient Traditions, New Images, Philip Bacon Gallery, Brisbane, Australia
Annandale Art Galleries, Sydney, Australia
Solo-exhibition, Works by Irene Chou, Lyric Lounge, Queensland Performing Art
Complex, Brisbane, Australia
1997
Irene Chou Painting Exhibition, Hong Kong Bank Building, Brisbane, Australia
1998
Rotunda Exchange Square, Hong Kong
1999
Philip Bacon Gallery, Brisbane, Australia
2000
Hanart Tz Gallery, Hong Kong
2001
Multicultural Women’s Business Exhibition, Australia
In Celebration of Art – Hong Kong Arts Centre 25th Anniversary Exhibition, Hong
Kong
First Choice Exhibition 2002, Hong Kong
2002
Chinese Paintings from the Khoan & Muchael Sullivan Collection, The Ashmolean
Museum, Oxford, U.K.
Artists in the Neighbourhood Scheme II, Launching Exhibition, Central Library, Hong
Kong
Hong Kong Cityscapes – Ink Painting in Transition, Hong Kong Festival, London, U.K.
2003
Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong
2004
Hanart Tz Gallery, Hong Kong
Grotto Fine Art, Hong Kong
2005
Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane, Australia
2006
Universe of the Mind – Zhou Luyun (Irene Chou): A Retrospective exhibition, University Museum & Art Gallery, Hong Kong
2007
“Irene Chou: Life is a many splendoured thing” solo-exhibition, The Rotunda, Exchange Square, Hong Kong
2008
“Irene Chou: Life is a many splendoured thing” solo-exhibition, iPreciation, Singapore