Left: “Gingko”, Fine Art Limited Edition, 32” x 32” Below: “Heavenly Light”, Fine Art Limited Edition, 30” x 40”

identifies the contemporary context of traditions, identifying the similarities across a variety of cultures. As a female artist, Lu also explores and challenges conventional images of female characters. In Self Realization, for example, Lu depicts a woman painting her body with flowers. It speaks to the female figure’s relationship with herself, knowing herself, and taking ownership of her body. She contrasts the organic lines and naturalistic forms of both the flowers and the female body with a square patterned wall of gold. While not all of her paintings focus on the female figure, her works are part of an important dialogue regarding the feminine voice in art.

Many female figures appear as goddesses, strong and resilient, but Lu adds human complexity to each composition. The women she creates direct and dictate the course of their own lives. Through poses of introspection, growth and discovery, Lu’s heroines invite the viewer to experience their perspective, shedding light on both the vulnerability and strength that define her inherently human qualities. Symbolism thrives in her carefully-constructed paintings.

Gingko, part of Lu’s “Seeking” series, portrays a young woman draped in red cloth, kneeling down to examine a single gingko leaf. One of the world’s most ancient plants, gingko originated in China and remains a strong image. It is used to represent the concept of yin and yang, and as a symbol of longevity and vitality. The gingko leaf is also known to have medicinal properties.

January 31, 2014 marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year, an important holiday celebrated in countries throughout the world. Join Exclusive Collections at the Forum Shops Gallery in Las Vegas in welcoming The Year of the Horse. There will be lion dancers and a special exhibition of Lu’s art, where you can meet the artist and view her breathtaking figurative works.

“...Lu’s paintings unite her Asian and American cultural influences, as well as her Buddhist and Christian ones, focusing on the growing notion of globalization and living as a citizen of the world.”

EXCLUSIVE COLLECTIONS GALLERIES 11