Xiang Li’s empresses began as library research — history, dress, symbols — and many of them have come back to libraries as exhibitions. This page sets out what a library show has looked like: the paintings, the programs and the books.
Before an empress reaches the silk, Xiang Li 李湘 reads about her: her dynasty, her clothing, the flowers and animals of her court. She did some of that reading at Newton Free Library, years before she exhibited there. Her training was thirty-seven years in the Forbidden City’s copying studio, where every detail had to be right.
Her daughter, Fei Wu, produces the library shows — installation, writing, programs — and gives the public talks, translating for her mother.
Empress portraits for the history, the zodiac for families, and the book for anyone who wants to keep reading.
中国皇后
Originals — framed, or as raw, unframed silk — and stretched canvas prints. For spaces that are not guarded, we recommend the canvas prints, for safety and protection of the work.
画册
Chinese Empresses, a full-color hardcover of the empress paintings by Xiang Li and Fei Wu — for the shelves and display cases beside the show. Dream of the Red Chamber is the companion volume.
十二生肖
Twelve hand-painted animals, each with its story and the years it rules.
Each library used its own spaces: a Main Hall, a reading-room corridor, glass cases, a community room. Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy is next, in May 2027.
Years before she exhibited there, Xiang Li studied at Newton Free Library — reading about historical women, dress and symbolism for her paintings. In July 2026 the finished work hung through the library’s Main Hall, free to everyone during opening hours.
July 2–30, 2026
Read the story →
More than thirty canvas reproductions through the building, with the waiting-room display cases holding books, photographs and materials about the collection. Xiang brought three original silks for the opening reception.
July 2026 Read the story →
Watercolor originals and prints in the main hallway gallery, opened with a panel in the community room on Xiang’s years at the Forbidden City.
May 2025 Read the story →
An evening that began with families coloring Chinese dragon designs and ended with a hands-on demo of AI image tools beside the hand-painted originals.
September 2024 Read the story →
Most library shows have used two or three of these.
Framed originals, raw silk or stretched canvas prints along existing walls, usually for a month — canvas prints where the space is unguarded. Display cases can hold the book, photographs and materials.
A talk or panel led by Fei Wu, who speaks and translates for Xiang Li beside her — the collection, and Xiang’s years at the Forbidden City. Often during AAPI Heritage Month.
Simple arts-and-crafts activities so children and adults can make something while they look.
The two hardcovers shown with the paintings, so a visitor can keep reading after the walk-through.
Venues that have hosted the work
For dates, hanging requirements, insurance, program ideas or image files for your newsletter, write to the studio. Fei Wu produces and presents the studio’s programs and will answer.
Contact the studio Fei Wu · Producer and speaker · Xiang Li’s daughter
xiangliart@gmail.com