Longhua Xu

Longhua Xu is based in Hot Springs (Garland County), Arkansas USA and a native of China who came to Arkansas in 1990, becoming a leading member of the state’s artistic and cultural community. Among other accolades, in 2019, he was named an Arkansas Living Treasure by the Arkansas Arts Council. Longhua Xu was born in Shanghai, China in 1954. At age seventeen, Xu was chosen by the Chinese National Arts and Crafts Company to be part of an elite group of young artists who would be instructed in traditional Chinese art. He studied at the Luo Qing art academy in Shanghai province, a school that admitted only the most talented students from across the country. Starting at age eighteen, Xu began displaying his art at exhibitions all over China, including at the renowned Shanghai Art Museum. He graduated from East China University of Technology with a degree in fine arts, going on to teach art at Shanghai University of Technology. During this time, he created several large sculptures that were exhibited in Shanghai. Some of his works were presented to foreign dignitaries as gifts from the government of China. Prints of his artworks were published in several of China’s national magazines. After leaving Shanghai University of Technology in 1989, Xu was allowed to move to the United States with the title of “Outstanding Artist” under a program sponsored by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. He received an “O-1B” visa classification, which is for individuals who possess extraordinary ability in the arts. They must demonstrate exceptional accomplishments and be recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements. Later going on to becoming a U.S. citizen, Xu said that his move to America was motivated by seeking artistic freedom as well as his belief that there would be greater access to artists and arts venues all over the world by living in America. His first American post was teaching at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. Xu’s massive sculpture in Hot Springs, called Mother Nature, has been praised by admirers including President Bill Clinton, whose letter of commendation stated that it was a “beautiful addition to Bathhouse Row and should bring enjoyment to millions of visitors for years to come.” The marble sculpture depicts a woman pouring water from a jug as deer gather at her feet. Since 1992, Xu’s Mother Nature sculpture has been a main attraction in the city’s historic downtown district, where it can be seen in front of the Arlington Hotel. In the years that followed, Xu created numerous pieces of art for hospitals, public parks, and schools, as well as countless works for private collectors. His primary medium is sculpture, but he has also created oil paintings, acrylics, bronzes, pottery, stone carvings, and woodworks. He also taught art for five years at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia (Clark County). In 2019, Longhua Xu was named an Arkansas Living Treasure by the Arkansas Arts Council. Presented by an independent panel based on the quality of the individual’s work, the award recognizes Arkansas artists who have preserved and passed on traditional crafts. In addition, Xu was recognized by the Arkansas Arts Council for being an active artist with a large body of work that is widely sought-after, for participation in community outreach, for continuing to build and expand the range of Arkansas art, and for inspiring other artists.