HILO CHEN
Taiwanese-American, b. 1942
Hilo Chen is a pioneering figure in contemporary photorealism, renowned for his striking works that combine technical precision with vivid exploration of form and space. Born in Yilan, Taiwan, and educated in architectural engineering, Chen relocated to New York in 1968 where he immersed himself in the heart of the photorealist movement.
As a first-generation photorealist artist, Chen is best known for his bold, large-scale paintings of the female form—sunbathers, poolside figures, and stylized nudes rendered in meticulous detail. Using techniques such as airbrush and flat-paint application to eliminate brushstrokes, he achieves luminous, photographic clarity that emphasizes surfaces, skin textures and the interplay of light and shadow.
Chen’s work is held in major public collections, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, attesting to his international influence and stature. His photorealist paintings transcend mere representation—they explore color, spatial depth and the viewer’s gaze, elevating everyday imagery into charged moments of visual intensity.
Represented by leading galleries and regularly exhibited worldwide, Chen remains a key voice in the genre of contemporary realism. His work continues to engage collectors and institutions drawn to technically masterful, hyper-detailed visions of modern life and the human figure.