About Me

A classical figurative draftswoman and art historian, Dr. Aihua was born in Beijing, China. She began her art training at an early age, and then pursued a professional education at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. After this she immigrated to the United States, and studied art at Cal Lutheran University and classical figurative sculpture at Academy of Art University, San Francisco. She holds a Ph.D. in art history and visual culture from University of Exeter, United Kingdom.

Her figurative work is heavily influenced by the rich tradition of classical theory and principle with its focus on realism; but rather than simply mimic this style, she has worked to blend classical and contemporary elements to create a voice of her own. Her pastel works quietly capture the essence of the inner virtues of kindness, diligence, reverence, generosity and truthfulness, presenting the qualities of elegance, gracefulness and exquisiteness - the better parts of the human condition revealed in the idealized figure.

Dr. Aihua is an Artist Member of the California Art Club. She teaches drawing at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. She and her husband Dr. Michael Pearce live in Thousand Oaks, California.