Xiang Li Art’s Lunar New Year Exhibit at the MFA Boston (2025)
February 12, 2025 · Fei Wu
What an incredible celebration it was at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston this Lunar New Year! Xiang Li’s exhibit, showcasing her exquisite silk paintings of Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, Northern, and Southern dynasty empresses (new showcases that were completed in January 2025) were presented in front of over 2,100 visitors—the largest Chinese New Year crowd MFA Boston has ever seen. We’re filled with gratitude and excitement to share a few highlights from this unforgettable day.
Xiang had a premium location to display her very large silk paintings – the beautiful Shapiro Courtyard!
It’s important to note that Xiang Li’s silk art was among dozens of other activities organized by the MFA. It felt absolutely incredible to be surrounded by artists and creators under the same roof.
A Fantastic Team Effort
Xiang Li Art, as usual, was led with unwavering support from her dedicated team:
- Fei Wu (daughter)
- Adam Leffert (cofounder of PodIntelligence and Full Stack Developer)
- Tripti Gore Chandorkar (content strategist and brand ambassador, creator behind triptiji.com)
- Jorge Fuentes (our dear family friend, talented dance instructor, geoengineer and one who helped Xiang Li build several shows including the one at Denholm’s)
- Emily Desouza (family friend who jumped in to help toward the end! Talented hairstylist you can find on Instagram here)
Here’s a timelapse of our setup process before the show between 2:30-5pm that day.
Each person poured their heart into making this exhibit a success—from coordinating logistics to engaging with visitors at the booth. Working side by side with the MFA team was truly seamless. Their warmth, professionalism, and careful planning set the perfect stage for Xiang’s art.
Engaging with the Crowd
Throughout the evening between 5-9pm, we were amazed by how deeply visitors connected with Xiang’s work. Families and children in particular were captivated by the stories behind the empress paintings. Many young attendees were delighted to learn about different eras of Chinese history—all communicated through Xiang’s vibrant silk pieces.
A six-old boy wrote down on Xiang’s guestbook. “Your work is very, very, very, very, very beautiful!” This message still inspires Xiang daily to this day. 🙂
We also sold dozens of panda cards and merch, empress cards, and beautiful scarves from Xiang Li’s wearable art collection you can see on Etsy. Seeing both adults and kids excited to bring home a piece of Xiang’s art was a highlight for all of us.
Reflections and Gratitude
In speaking with attendees, one thing was clear: there’s a growing curiosity and appreciation for Chinese art and culture. People were eager to learn about Xiang’s technique, the historical context of her subjects, and the inspiration behind her style.
We’re deeply grateful to the MFA Boston for hosting such a welcoming and well-organized event. Their dedication to celebrating cultural diversity shines through every aspect of the festival. If you’d like to learn more about the MFA’s Lunar New Year celebration and other upcoming special events, take a look at their official website here.
More from the Event
There were lion dance, instrumental performances and more in the same exhibition hall as Xiang Li’s art display. We had a clear view into what’s happening all around us. Everyone was so alive. It made me thinking about how such cultural celebrations completely transformed the museum. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we do this more regularly?
Want More?
Curious about how Xiang and her team have been celebrating Lunar New Year around Massachusetts? Check out the blog post written by Tripti Gore Chandorkar about Xiang Li’s art display for the Lunar New Year festivities at the Worcester Art Museum.
It’s a glimpse into Xiang’s journey, her collaborative spirit, and the joy of bringing communities together through art.
Thank you to everyone who came to support Xiang Li’s exhibit at the MFA. Your enthusiasm and passion for Chinese art made this year’s Lunar New Year celebration truly memorable. We can’t wait to see you at future events—stay tuned for more artistic adventures!