Under the Hammer
Chinese Paintings from the Collection of
Lily Lee Chen, The First Female Chinese-American Mayor of the United States
Bonhams is proud to present four paintings from the collection of Lily Lee Chen in our Fine Asian Works of Art auction, taking place in Los Angeles on 27 June. Here, we explore her rise in politics and collecting.
Lily Lee Chen was born in Tianjin, China in 1936, during the Chinese Civil War. Her father was a prominent professor and a member of the Kuomintang, the Chinese Nationalist Party. When the Communist Party of China took control of Tianjin in 1949, Lily and her family fled to safety to Taiwan.
Lot 148 Jiang Bibo (B. 1939), Portrait of a Lady, 1985. Estimate: $800-1,200.
Lot 148 Jiang Bibo (B. 1939), Portrait of a Lady, 1985. Estimate: $800-1,200.
Like Father, Like Daughter
Growing up in Taiwan, Lily discovered a natural aptitude for public speaking. Lily’s father, a gifted speaker himself, took notice of her abilities, and he began coaching her stance, cadence, and tone.
Her strong relationship with her father is reflected within her art collection. For example, lot 146, Chen Shaomei’s Landscape was a gift to Lily from her father. The colophon above the landscape bears her father’s handwriting, with a special dedication to Lily.
From Taiwan to the United States
In 1956, Lily was chosen as a representative of Taiwan for the prestigious Youth Specialists Program, part of the International Exchange Program run by U.S. Department of State. Through the Youth Specialists Program, Lily had the opportunity to travel throughout the United States.
In 1969, Lily’s family relocated from Huntington Beach to Monterey Park. Encouraged by her local community, Lily ventured into politics and made her first bid for city council in 1981. Despite a narrow defeat by a margin of 28 votes, she remained undeterred, and in 1982, Lily ran for city council once again, securing an overwhelming victory that surpassed all previous records in Monterey Park. This triumph not only solidified her position as the city's mayor, but also made her a trailblazer as the first female Chinese-American mayor in the United States.
Lily’s appointment as mayor quickly gained international attention, and she embarked on numerous diplomatic visits to China and Taiwan. Throughout her travels, Lily received Chinese paintings as gifts from prominent politicians and emissaries, including lot 147, a painting by Qiu Bo'An, depicting various subjects.
Lot 147 Qiu Bo'an (Qiu Qiyang B. 1936), Various Subjects, 1983 and 1980. Estimate: $1,000-1,500
Lot 147 Qiu Bo'an (Qiu Qiyang B. 1936), Various Subjects, 1983 and 1980. Estimate: $1,000-1,500
Browse the Collection of Lily Lee Chen
Register to bid in Fine Asian Works of Art
Browse all lots in our auction on 27 June in Los Angeles, or reach out to hannah.thompson@bonhams.com for inquiries.
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