JoAnna Cordell

Art History

JoAnna Cordell is a senior art history student at University of Colorado Denver. Her academic journey began where she grew up, at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, where she studied art history and art education. Seeking broader experience, she left UWM and backpacked internationally for two years- an experience that deepened her cultural awareness and appreciation for global creativity. In spring 2024, she returned to her studies to complete her art history degree at University of Colorado Denver. Since returning, she has been an energized student, with academic interests that include Chinese art, contemporary practices, and art movements shaped by cultural transformation. She is considering graduate studies after graduation from CU Denver, and hopes to work in museum education and community arts engagement in the future.

Thesis Title:
Beyond the Canvas:
Xu Beihong’s Legacy in Art, Education, and Cultural Diplomacy

Abstract:
Xu Beihong (1895-1953) was a critical individual in the timeline of China’s artistic evolution and commonly regarded by scholars as one of the most accomplished painters of the twentieth century. His knowledge and interpretation of Western realist techniques combined with traditional Chinese aesthetics created an oeuvre that is celebrated globally. Most research on Xu Beihong has focused on his artistic output, while his broader influence as an educator, and intercultural advocate remains underexplored. This paper explores a gap in scholarship by first detailing Xu Beihong’s own non-traditional art education under his father, Xu Dazhang, and his tenacity in the development of his artistic career. Coming from humble beginnings in China, Xu had the profound and formative opportunity to study at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, which exposed him to Western academic realism and classical techniques.The paper then shifts to his return to a war-laden China, where he sought to reform art education on the basis of realism. Additionally, his diplomatic efforts, particularly his engagements with foreign artists and institutions, helped position Chinese art within a global discourse, reinforcing China’s cultural autonomy amid political upheavals. Through an analysis of Xu Beihong’s creative work, philanthropic efforts, institutional reforms, and his commitment to cultural modernization, this research will explore his role beyond the canvas. As a result, this work sheds new light on Xu Beihong’s role in shaping Chinese twentieth-century culture, thus contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of his historical significance.