Leon Li was born in 1977 in Beijing, China. From an early age, he developed a deep passion for art and painting, avidly subscribing to art journals from around the world. During his secondary school years, he received formal training in sketching and drawing, laying a solid artistic foundation.

 

When admitted to Tsinghua University—one of China’s most prestigious institutions—Leon chose to major in Computer Science over Architecture. However, he continued to pursue his artistic interests by taking courses in composition and color theory. With a strong design sensibility, he became one of China’s first-generation web designers, earning multiple national awards for website design.

 

Since 2000, Leon has founded several successful internet ventures in China. Throughout his professional journey, he remained dedicated to artistic practice, experimenting across various mediums including oil, acrylic, 3D digital art, and iPad-based hand drawing, constantly refining his aesthetic vision and technical skills.

 

In 2023, Leon relocated to New Zealand and began work on a large-scale acrylic portrait series. Inspired by the geometric form of the octagon, he developed a distinctive and expressive style through transformation and abstraction. To date, the series includes more than a dozen pieces, such as 48” × 60” portraits and 40” × 40” self-portraits.