Beijing, November 10, 2025 — The inauguration ceremony of the China–Russia Art Exchange Center of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) and the conferment of an Honorary Professorship upon Prof. Vasily Tsereteli, President of the Russian Academy of Arts, were held today at the CAFA Art Museum. Distinguished guests included renowned veteran CAFA artists Mr. Jin Shangyi, Mr. Du Jian, and Mr. Wen Guozhang; Vasily Tsereteli, President of the Russian Academy of Arts; Sergey Shagulashvili, Head of International Affairs of the Russian Academy of Arts; and Zhang Guanyu, Director of Moscow “Center 9” Contemporary Art Center. CAFA leadership, heads of relevant faculties and departments, and faculty representatives who previously studied in Russia also attended the event.

Xu Yang, Secretary of the Party Committee of CAFA, and Vasily Tsereteli, President of the Russian Academy of Arts, jointly unveiled the plaque of the CAFA China–Russia Art Exchange Center.

Lin Mao, President of CAFA, presented the letter of appointment for Honorary Professorship to Vasily Tsereteli.

In his remarks, Mr. Jin Shangyi stated,

“China–Russia artistic cooperation is grounded in a solid historical foundation and profound emotional ties. The establishment of the China–Russia Art Exchange Center marks another important achievement in CAFA’s international development, and represents a significant step forward in China–Russia cultural cooperation in the new era. The Center will further deepen bilateral integration in art education, open new horizons in academic research, creative practice, and cultural dialogue, and jointly paint a new chapter in China–Russia artistic exchange.”

President Lin Mao highlighted the longstanding artistic ties between CAFA and the Russian art community.From the influence of 19th-century Russian Realism on Chinese artistic thought, to the foundational role of the Maksimov Oil Painting Training Program and Clindukhov Sculpture Training Program in the 1950s, Russian artistic experience has long nourished the development of modern Chinese art.He emphasized that the establishment of the China–Russia Art Exchange Center is both a tribute to a century of shared history and a strategic new beginning aimed at expanding future cooperation in art education. The Center will serve as a platform for collaboration in cultural and artistic exchange, academic research and creative practice, and high-level talent development—further institutionalizing bilateral mechanisms and contributing new momentum to the implementation of people-to-people exchange initiatives agreed upon by the presidents of both countries.

In his speech, Vasily Tsereteli expressed his great honor at being appointed Honorary Professor of CAFA:

“Art transcends borders and connects cultures and peoples. The establishment of this Center provides an unprecedented platform for cooperation. I look forward to working with Chinese colleagues to explore the limitless possibilities of art and contribute to the advancement of art education and cultural exchange between our two nations.”

The ceremony was hosted by Wang Chuan, Director of CAFA’s Office of International Cooperation and Exchange.

After the ceremony, Chinese and international guests toured the upcoming exhibition “Oil Painting Brought In: A Retrospective of the Maksimov Oil Painting Training Program (1955–1957)” and the CAFA Art Museum’s classic permanent collection.

For decades, CAFA and the Russian art community have maintained deep and enduring ties—from the landmark training programs of the 1950s to subsequent generations of CAFA faculty studying in Russia, and to today’s collaborative research and creative exchanges. This longstanding mutual regard between the artists of both nations has already become part of CAFA’s historical DNA and artistic spirit. Today, the establishment of the China–Russia Art Exchange Center continues this tradition while opening a new chapter for the future.

About the CAFA China–Russia Art Exchange Center

The China–Russia Art Exchange Center of the Central Academy of Fine Arts is a dedicated institution jointly established by CAFA and the Russian Academy of Arts to promote collaborative projects in education, research, and cultural exchange.
Affiliated with the CAFA Center for International Art Education Exchange （CAFA Global Center）and administratively managed by CAFA’s Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, the Center is responsible for overall planning, coordination, project implementation, and results dissemination across areas including higher art education cooperation, joint academic programs, cultural exhibitions, and research and creative initiatives.

About Vasily Tsereteli

Prof. Vasily Tsereteli is a leading figure in contemporary Russian art and art education, and currently serves as President of the Russian Academy of Arts. Coming from a distinguished artistic family—his grandfather, Zurab Tsereteli, was one of the most influential figures in Soviet and Russian art—he studied at Parsons School of Design and the School of Visual Arts in New York.He has twice served as curator of the Russian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale and has been deeply committed to advancing international exchange and educational reform in Russian contemporary art. His contributions in art education innovation, contemporary art ecosystem development, and national cultural policy have been widely recognized. In May of this year, he was elected President of the Russian Academy of Arts by a wide margin.

About the Russian Academy of Arts

Founded in 1724 as part of Peter the Great’s “Academy of Sciences and Arts,” the Russian Academy of Arts is the highest national authority in Russia’s cultural and artistic field.Institutions such as the Repin Academy of Fine Arts and the Surikov Art Institute fall within its system.With its affiliated research institutes and museums, the Academy forms the most influential national art research and education system in Russia.