1965
Born in Beijing
1998
Received Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from the Capital Normal University, Beijing

Selected Exhibitions
2008
Art Cologne, Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany
Chinese Art Masters Exhibition, Art Scene Warehouse, Shanghai
China Art Gallery Exposition, Shanghai
Chinese Art Comes to New York, Art Scene New York, New York 
2007
Art Cologne, Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany
Liu Yan – Solo Exhibition, Art Scene Warehouse, Shanghai
Chinese Contemporary Art Exhibition, Reed Savage Gallery, Miami, Florida 
2006
Group Exhibition, Art Scene Warehouse, Shanghai 
2005 
Liu Yan – Solo Exhibition, Art Scene Warehouse, Shanghai
Dress Up in Art - The Topic of Beijing Opera, Today Gallery, Beijing
2004
Cohesion, Art Scene Warehouse, Shanghai
Art Cologne 2004, Cologne, Germany
Painting on Photographs - Exhibition of Work a French Photographer and a Chinese Painter, Le Jardin d’Acclimatation, Paris, France
New Classics, National Museum of Art, Beijing
Invitational Exhibition of Fine Works of Traditional Chinese Delicate Painting, International Art Palace, Beijing
Dream, Perplexity, Modern Female Identification - A Feminism Art Exhibition, Chinese Women’s Activity Center, Beijing
2003
Miniature Delicacies – The First Exhibition of Mini-Chinese Painting, National Museum of Fine Art, Beijing
Shanghai Spring Art Salon, Shanghai Everbright Convention & Exhibition Center, Shanghai
Chinese Art Today, The China Millennium Monument, Beijing
Mix Together & Permeate - Contemporary Chinese Painting, International Art Palace, Beijing
2001 
0-Modern Chinese Painting Exhibition, Shandong Art Museum, Shandong Province
Courtyard Gallery Group Show, Courtyard Gallery, Beijing
2001
China-Korea Art Exchange Exhibition, Capital Normal University Art Museum, Beijing
Beijing New Century International Women Art Exhibition, National Museum of Fine Arts, Beijing
2000
For a Full New World - Environmental Protection Art Exhibition, (National Museum of Fine Arts, Beijing
China Arts Exposition 2000, Guangzhou and Beijing. Awarded Prize for Excellence.
1999
Transformations - Painters Examine Change in China, Carleton College Art Gallery, USA
Art works by Hong Kong & Mainland Chinese Women Artists, Gallery at City Hall, Hong Kong 
1998
Women of the Century - Selected Works. National Museum of Fine Arts, Beijing
China Arts Exposition ’98, Guangzhou and Beijing
1997
‘97 Taegu Asia Arts Exhibition, Korea 
1996
China Arts Exposition ’96, Guangzhou and Beijing
Liu Yan Solo Art Exhibition, Qin Gallery, Beijing
1995
Auction of Contemporary Art, Hong Kong
Chinese Women Artists’ Exhibition, China National Art Museum, Beijing
1994
China Arts Exposition ’94, Guangzhou and Beijing
1992
International Oriental Ink-Wash Art Exhibition, Toronto, Canada. Awarded Maple Leaf Prize.
1989
The New Artist Awards on Contemporary Chinese Ink Painting, Prizes of Merit, Beijing and Taiwan 
 
Selected Publications
Art
Art Guide
Art Life
Art Life
Art Observation
Arts Exploration
Beauty Desire - The Art of Women, Hunan Fine Arts Publishing House
China Art Market
China Culture Pictorial
China Profiles - Trends
Chinese Art Today
Chinese Contemporary Arts
Fine Arts Literature
Furbusiness
Persimmon - Asian Literature, Arts and Culture
Pictorial Handbook of Chinese Contemporary Arts 1979-1999
Sculpture
Treasury
Vision