Biography

William S Hung

Chinese American oil painter William Shih-Chieh Hung was born in Jieyang City – nicknamed “home of the poor scholars”- in China’s Guangdong province in 1928. He loved painting ever since childhood and was deeply infatuated with the arts. It was his tirelessness and his endless pursuit in creating his works throughout his life that led to his success.

Hung spent the first half of his life in mainland China, where he endured immense hardship and political persecution. He immigrated to the United States in 1979 and became a certified member of the Portrait Society of America. He was awarded with the lifetime master title by the APSC. He opened Hung’s Gallery in Oakland, California, and he had created oil painting portraits for former US President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy.

In 2001, China’s People’s Fine Arts Publishing House published his book “William Shih-Chieh Hung, Oil Paintings ”.

In 2004, Hung and his wife Susie returned to their native country of China for the first time since their immigration. He held arts-themed lectures as well as exhibitions of his works, and later published the commemorative Book – “Back To Motherland” to preserve in words his true love for his hometown.

Hung was a diligent painter throughout his life and mentored many students selflessly. He continued to contribute to society even during the last year of his life; he held lectures on “Appreciation For the Works of Arts” at Stanford University to explain the art of painting to students, and demonstrated oil painting portrait from live model. He also gave a lecture at UC Berkeley called “My Hometown Chaozhou” to students and members of the UC Berkeley Chaozhou Alumni Association, so that these overseas descendants could have a better understanding of their hometown’s long and distinguished heritage.

Hung was revered for his portraits and the breadth of his work. He had held numerous solo and group exhibitions in both the United States and China. The subject matter of his work mostly focused on the female figure, which he portrayed with graceful movements and elegant style. His works have been published in the DIRECTORY OF AMERICAN PORTRAIT ARTISTS , COLLECTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART, as well as the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF LIVING ARTISTS IN AMERICA over the years, and have been sought after by many collectors and curated in museums. His accomplishments have also been compiled into DIRECTORY OF INTERNATIONAL DISTINGUISHED PEOPLE by Britain’s Cambridge International Biography Centre.

While Hung’s style of painting was deeply influenced by the art of the European Renaissance as well as referencing traits of realism and impressionism, he also strived to maintain his own individual style. Art is infinite; Hung once said that he will always be a student, and that his life is forever bound to art.

Aside from painting, Mr. Hung’s other hobby was taking road trips. Almost every weekend he and his wife went out to explore nature and the great outdoors, visiting small towns and public parks. He often wrote essays detailing his adventures as well as his personal reflections of his art.

A devout Christian, Hung was blessed with a happy marriage and family. His loving wife Susie went through thick and thin with him and always supported his career. His daughter Sandra Lo has inherited his passion and, like her father, continues her journey on the path of art via her website www.sandralo.com