Meet Artist Yan Sun - Fine Artist & Painter - OPA, ASMA, & NOAPS

Yan Sun Paintings


Yan Sun is an accomplished fine artist specializing in oil and acrylic paintings that blend realism with expressive techniques. His work spans landscapes, harbor scenes, portraits, and philosophical ideas, capturing light, atmosphere, and intricate details with remarkable precision.

  • Ruth Dorsey Neptune Distinguished Professor of Fine Arts, Muskingum University.
  • Signature artist of Oil Painters of America (OPA).
  • Signature artist of American Society of Marine Artists (ASMA).
  • Signature artist of National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society (NOAPS).
  • Artist of the 2022 Governor's Awards for the Arts, Ohio Arts Council
  • Co-founder and artist of Yan Sun Art Museum & Gallery.

Yan Sun is the recipient of The William Oxley Thompson Award for Excellence in Teaching (2001) and The William Rainey Harper Award for Outstanding Scholarship (2008) of Muskingum University.

To recognize the contributions of Yan Sun to the museum and its community, Zanesville Museum of Art named its “Diverse Cultures” Gallery the "Yan Sun Diverse Cultures Gallery."

Hayden Museum of American Art published Yan Sun's paintings in two books:

Life • Time • Space – Paintings by Yan Sun. 2004.
Yan Sun - Cross Culture . Cross Century. 2007. Introductory article: "Yan Sun – A True American Master" by George Korńye.

Yan Sun Exhibitions and Media Coverage

Yan Sun's paintings are showcased in solo exhibitions at art centers, galleries, and museums such as the Hayden Museum of American Art, Zanesville Museum of Art, Canton Museum of Art, and Museum of East Texas. Additionally, some of his paintings have become part of these museums' permanent collections. His artworks are also selected for numerous regional, national, and international juried art exhibitions, with many of them receiving awards.

Yan Sun Collections

Yan Sun’s paintings are collected by museums and organizations, including

  • Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Hayden Museum of American Art, Paris, TX
  • Museum of East Texas, Lufkin, TX
  • Canton Art Museum, Canton, OH
  • Franklin Museum, New Athens, OH
  • Muskingum County Communication Foundation, Zanesville, OH
  • Muskingum University, OH
  • Alpine Hills Historical Museum, OH
  • Zanesville Museum of Art, Zanesville, OH
  • La Jolla Village Art Foundation, La Jolla, CA
  • Tuscarawas County Center for the Arts, New Philadelphia, OH

His paintings are also proudly held in numerous private collections, a testament to their lasting appeal and artistic value.

Yan Sun Artist Statement

“As products of the interaction between mind and nature, my artworks explore three primary themes: Life, Time, and Space. Nature not only provides me with a sense of existence but also imbues life with meaning. Life encompasses associations with both time and space—it signifies existence in general, encompassing the artist's life and human experience. TIME represents history, bridging the past and present. It encompasses both moments in real time and psychic time, which can synchronize disparate moments simultaneously. SPACE is my realm of dreams. It extends beyond physical dimensions to include psychic, illusory, and boundless expanses.“ - Yan Sun

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