Li Xuying (1903-1969), with pen names Li Xuyin and Xuyin, was a renowned modern Chinese design artist, educator and writer. She graduated from the Beiping Art Academy in 1929 with excellent grades and stayed on as a beloved teacher in the Applied Arts Department until 1949. During the Republic era, the Beiping Art Academy gathered pioneers of modern Chinese art design and founders of applied art education, including Li Youxing, Lei Guiyuan, Huang Huaiying and Pang Xunqin. Li Xuying was among these distinguished figures.
Li Xuying excelled in decorative paintings and pattern design. In addition to teaching, she worked across various fields of applied arts, creating motifs for textiles and carpets, designing book and magazine covers and advertising posters. Her works were noted for their meticulous craftsmanship, and ingenious integration of traditional Chinese cultural elements, earning accolades from prominent cultural figures like Ling Wenyuan, Fu Sinian, and Hu Shih. Some of her works are included in the White Incense Design Collection. Li Xuying was also an accomplished poet and writer, with collections such as Xuyin’s Verse and Verses Under the Green Shade.
In her personal life, Li Xuying, coming from a comfortable, traditional family, pursued modern education and thought, achieving economic independence and career development. Despite enduring war displacements and the early loss of her husband, she singlehandedly raised her two daughters to adulthood through her resilient spirit.
Sadly, most of Li Xuying’s artworks were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. The Xuying Art Gallery is dedicated to collecting and displaying her surviving designs and writings, and documenting her life’s story. The material primarily comes from her family’s collection, related works, and reports from old newspapers and magazines. These efforts are aimed at providing the public an opportunity to know this extraordinary female artist and valuable resources for those interested in modern Chinese art design and education.
李旭英（1903-1969），笔名李絮因，絮茵，是中国现代著名图案艺术家，教育家和作家。她1929年毕业于北平艺专，以优异的成绩留校在图案系任教至1949年，是艺专深受爱戴的教师。民国时期的北平艺专汇集了中国现代艺术设计的开创者和实用美术教育的奠基人，如李有行，雷圭元，黄怀英、庞薰琹等。李旭英也是其中一员。
李旭英擅长装饰画和图案设计，教书之余从事各种实用美术设计，创作了用于纺织品与地毯的装饰图案，书籍、杂志封面、及广告海报等。在艺术上，她的设计以精巧著称，巧妙融合诸多中国传统文化的元素，受到著名文化人士凌文渊，傅斯年，胡适等人的赞赏。她的部分作品收录在《白香图案集》中。李旭英还擅长诗文，著有《絮茵吟草》，《绿荫诗词吟草》等诗集。
在生活中，出身舒适传统家庭的李旭英，追求新式教育和思想，经济独立和事业发展。虽然历经战乱迁移，早年丧夫，仍凭着坚韧的意志一个人抚养两个女儿成人成才。
遗憾的是，李旭英的大部分艺术作品在文革中付之一炬。旭英美术馆致力于收集展示她残存的设计和诗文，记录她的生平事迹。资料主要来自于李旭英家人的收藏，相关著作和旧时报刊杂志的报道。希望这些努力能让世人有机会了解这位杰出的女性艺术家，也为对中国现代艺术设计及教学感兴趣的读者提供一点资料。
