Lucien Liu (b. 1988) is a Chinese visual artist who employs photography as his primary medium. His monochrome images offer tranquil meditations on landscapes, reflecting his perception of self-sustaining existence and the relentless passage of time.
Lucien dedicates extensive periods to observing the environments, gently uncovering overlooked details and attuning to his own shifting emotions. Through this introspective lens, he seeks a balanced state that deepens his understanding of personal growth and existence. His monochrome tones intentionally blur the viewer’s sense of time and space, while his small, unique prints mirror his journey of self-exploration. Each photograph is meticulously hand-printed using a blend of historical and contemporary photographic techniques, harmonizing with his serene vision of the landscape.
Lucien is living and working in San Francisco.
Education
2016.08 - 2019.12 MFA in Photography. Academy of Art University, San Francisco, United States.
2007.08 - 2011.06 BBM in Media Management. Communication University of China, Beijing, China.
Awards
2020
International Photography Grant: Talent of the Year 2020 International Photography Grant
Analog Forever Magazine’s Top 50 Analog Photographs of 2020 Analog Forever Magazine
The International Photography Awards 2020 1st place, Non-Professional Analog/Film, Fine Art The International Photography Awards
Exhibitions
2022
"Alternative" CHUNG | NAMONT, San Francisco, CA.
2021
"unique: alternative processes 2021", A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX.
"Exposure" CHUNG | NAMONT, San Francisco, CA.
"The International Photography Awards 2020 - Best of Show" House of Lucie, Budapest, Hungary
2020
"PhotoAlliance Bay Area Current(ly)" PhotoAlliance, San Francisco, CA.
"Photography Without a Lens" Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts, Providence, RI.
"Fantastic Film Show" LightBox Photographic Gallery, Astoria, OR.
"Society of Arts and Crafts 2020 Photography Competition" Society of Arts and Crafts, Montgomery, AL.
"Imagination" PH21 Gallery, Budapest, Hungary.
"Internal Dialogue" One Twelve Publishing, Portland, OR.
"2020 CPA Member’s Juried Exhibition" Center for Photographic Art, Carmel, CA.
"Envision Arts Black + White III" Envision Arts, Denton, TX.
"Alternative Processes" SE Center For Photography, Greenville, SC.
2019
"unique: alternative processes 2019", A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX.
"Cameraless", Analog Forever Magazine, San Francisco, CA.
"4th Annual Alternative Process Photography Exhibition", The Image Flow, Mill Valley, CA.
2018
"3rd Annual Alternative Process Photography Exhibition", The Image Flow, Mill Valley, CA.
2017
"CA.94965", 625 Sutter Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
Publications/Press
Edge of Humanity Magazine “…big cities are still warm.” | Public Displays Of Affection. Feb, 2021
Soft Lightning Volume 2: Connection. Nov,2020.
The Hand Magazine, Issue 29. Jul, 2020.
The Hand Magazine, Issue 21. Jul, 2018.