Voices of Strength: Xiang Li’s Original Paintings at Newton Free Library
This July 2026, Xiang Li Art is honored to present Voices of Strength: Empresses and Zodiac Animals at the Newton Free Library in Newton, Massachusetts.
Installed throughout the library’s Main Hall, the exhibition brings together a selection of Xiang Li’s original, hand-painted works, including portraits from her Chinese Empresses Collection and paintings representing the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.
The exhibition is on view from July 2–30, 2026, and is free and open to the public during regular library hours.
Returning to a Place of Research and Inspiration
This installation holds special personal meaning for Xiang.
Years ago, while researching Chinese history, historical women, traditional clothing, symbolism, and cultural stories for her paintings, Xiang visited the Newton Free Library to study and seek inspiration.
Returning now as an exhibiting artist creates a meaningful connection between two parts of her creative journey: the research that helped shape her ideas and the completed paintings that emerged from years of study and artistic practice.
Libraries have long played an important role in Xiang’s work. They offer artists and visitors alike a place to encounter history, explore unfamiliar stories, and continue learning across generations.
Two Library Exhibitions in July 2026
The Newton exhibition is presented in parallel with another Xiang Li Art installation at the Wellesley Free Library, also on view during July 2026.
While the Newton exhibition features original paintings from the Chinese Empresses and Chinese zodiac collections, the Wellesley installation presents a different selection of empress portrait prints on canvas and introduces these historical women to another local community.
Together, the two exhibitions reflect Xiang Li Art’s growing partnership with public libraries as spaces for art, education, cultural exchange, and community connection.
Original Paintings Honoring History and Cultural Memory
Xiang Li spent four decades as a master artist at the Palace Museum in Beijing, also known as the Forbidden City.
Her paintings are created by hand using watercolor on silk or silk paper, along with mineral and gemstone-based pigments. Her meticulous technique draws from traditional Chinese painting practices while introducing historical subjects through a contemporary and deeply personal perspective.
The empress portraits honor women whose intelligence, courage, resilience, compassion, and influence helped shape Chinese history—including many whose stories remain unfamiliar today.
Alongside them, the Chinese zodiac paintings introduce animals connected to generations of stories about identity, family, personality, fortune, memory, and our relationship with nature.
Together, the collections explore universal ideas of strength, compassion, courage, beauty, and harmony.
Visit the Exhibition
Voices of Strength: Empresses and Zodiac Animals
Original paintings by Xiang Li
July 2–30, 2026
Newton Free Library
330 Homer Street
Newton, Massachusetts 02459
The exhibition is located in the library’s Main Hall and is free and open to the public during regular library hours.
We are grateful to the Newton Free Library for welcoming Xiang’s original artwork into a space that once supported her research—and that continues to inspire learning, curiosity, and connection throughout the community.
Bring Xiang Li Art to Your Library or Community Space
Xiang Li, Fei Wu, and the Xiang Li Art team work with libraries, hospitals, galleries, cultural organizations, and other public venues to develop accessible exhibitions drawn from Xiang’s extensive collections.
The process can be simple and flexible. Our team can help select a theme and collection, recommend artwork based on the available space, prepare gallery labels and educational materials, coordinate shipping, and support installation planning.
In addition to original paintings, Xiang Li Art offers museum-quality giclée reproductions on canvas that can be safely shipped to most locations throughout North America. Available collections include Chinese Empresses, Dream of the Red Chamber, the 100 Flower Goddesses, Chinese zodiac animals, pandas, dragons, phoenixes, and other cultural and nature-inspired works.
To discuss a potential exhibition, educational program, artist talk, or community installation, please contact the Xiang Li Art team.
