For Chen Chi, there is no division between the poet and the painter his works are lyrical evocations of the world around him. Born in Wusih, Kiangsu, China, in 1912, the artist came to the United States in 1947. In 1959-60, Chen Chi was visiting professor at Pennsylvania State University in University Park and in 1970, artist-in-residence at Utah State University, Logan.

Chen Chi is recognized as one of the world's finest artists. Many awards have been bestowed upon him for his paintings, including the Gold Medal of Honor from the American Watercolor Society; Samuel Finley Breese Morse Medal and Saltus Gold Medal of Merit from National Academy of Design; Benjamin West Clinedinst Medal; Edmond Greacen, N.A. Honor Award Medal and 99th Annual Grand Award for Watercolor of the Year.

Among the artist's publications are CHEN CHI - PAINTINGS (Switzerland, 1965), TWO OR THREE LINES FROM THE SKETCHBOOK OF CHEN CHI (New York, 1969) and CHINA FROM THE SKETCHBOOKS OF CHEN CHI (New York, 1974). His works are in the collections of numerous museums and institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Academy of Design, American Society of Arts and Letters, New York; Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Oh.; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia and Cleveland Art Institute, Oh.