PERSONAL DATA:                                                                                   

Born Fujian, China. U.S. citizen. Married, wife: Sing-Bee. Four children, sons: Yi-Hung & Yi-Min; daughters: Wan-Ying & Yen-Ying

EDUCATION:

Nanyang University, Singapore            1957-1960 BA
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis            1962-1964 MA
Studied watercolor with Gaell Lindstrom (U of M Duluth)            summer 1973
Studied watercolor with Edgar Whitney            summer 1978
Studied watercolor with Don Kingman            summer 1979

EMPLOYMENT:

University of Minnesota, Duluth            Associate Professor Emeritus/Artist            1997-
University of Minnesota, Duluth            Associate Professor           1988-1997
University of Minnesota, Duluth            Assistant Professor            1981-1988
University of Minnesota, Duluth            Instructor            1968-1981
University of Minnesota, Duluth            Librarian            1965-1968
Nanyang University, Singapore            Assistant Librarian           1961-1962

SELECTED SIGNATURE MEMBERSHIP:

• Allied Artists of America Elected Member
• American Watercolor Society Dolphin Fellow (AWS DF)
• Audubon Artists Elected Member
• California Watercolor Association
• Georgia Watercolor Society
• National Watercolor Society Signature Member (NWS) 
• Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Society (RMNWS)
• San Diego Watercolor Society
• Singapore Watercolor Society Honorary Member           
• Transparent Watercolor Society of America Signature Member (TWSA Master Status)
• Watercolor USA Honor Society
• Watercolor West

HONORS:

• The Minnesota Arrowhead Regional Arts Council honored Cheng-Khee with the George Morrison Artist Award in recognition of his international contribution to watermedia painting and a lifetime teaching and pursuits of excellence. 
• Listed in Who’s Who in the World, 22nd edition, 2005-
• Listed in Who’s Who in America, 48th edition, 1994-
• Listed in Who's Who in American Art, 15th edition, 1982-
• Listed in Who's Who in American Education, 6th edition, 2003-
• Listed in Artists of Chinese Origin in North America, 1st-2nd editions, 1993-1996
• Listed in The Dictionary of World Chinese Artists Achievements, 1994
• Listed in Something About the Author, a Biographical and Bibliographical Guide to Writers and Illustrators of Children’s Books, 1994
• Honored as Distinguished Artist-Teacher, Sumi-e Society of America, 1988
• Awarded Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Award, University of Minnesota, Duluth, 1994
• Honored as Duluth’s Cultural Ambassador to the World by Mayor Gary Doty, 1994
• Awarded University of Minnesota University College Distinguished Teaching Award, 1994
• Elected to serve as Board Director of the American Watercolor Society, 1996-1998
• Elected to serve as American Watercolor Society Ambassador, 2008-2009, 2009-2010
• The University of Minnesota, Duluth School of Fine Arts established the Cheng-Khee Chee Art Scholarship honoring his significant contribution to the University and students, 1998
• Awarded the Duluth Depot Foundation Arts and Culture Community Enrichment Award, 2004
• Honored by Alma Mater Nanyang Technological University in Singapore with the 2008 Alumni Achievement Award
• Honored by University of Minnesota, Duluth School of Fine Arts with membership of Society of Prometheans, recognizing his outstanding artistic accomplishments, 2009

SELECTED TOP AWARDS IN NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITIONS:

• Allied Artists of America Annual National Exhibition
              Gold Medal of Honor, 1980
              Silver Medal of Honor, 1993
• American Watercolor Society Annual International Exhibition
              Silver Medal of Honor, 1991
              High Winds Medal, 1994
• Knickerbocker Artists 43rd Annual Open Juried Grand International Exhibition
              Gold Medal of Honor, 1989
              Grand Award Gold Medal and Purchase Prize for Excellence, 1993
• National Watercolor Society Annual International Exhibition
              Watercolor West Transparent Watercolor Award, 1992           
              Winsor & Newton Award, 2003
              Blick Art Materials & Utrecht Art Supplies Cash Award, 2013
• Sumi-e Society of America Annual National Exhibition
              Best of Show, 1984 & 1986
• Transparent Watercolor Society of America Annual National Exhibition
              Skyledge Award (First Place), 1987 & 2007
              Edgar A. Whitney Memorial Award, 2011
              Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Award (Second Place), 2012
• Watercolor USA National Exhibition
              Francis R. Meisch Award and Purchase Award, 1998
• Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors
              Second Place Award, 1986 & 2008
              The Beechmont First and Gold Medallion Award, 2012
• California Watercolor Association Annual National Exhibition
              Silver Award, 1998
              Bronze Award, 2001
• Georgia Watercolor Society Annual National Exhibition
              Gold Award, 1985,1998 & 2009
              Silver Award, 1992 & 2002
• Kentucky Watercolor Society Annual National Exhibition
              First Place Award, 1991 & 1998
              Second Place Award 2007
• Louisiana Watercolor Society 26th International Exhibition
              First Place Award, 1996; Second Place Award, 2007
• Mississippi Watercolor Society Annual Grand National Exhibition
              Second Place Award, 1996
• New Orleans Art Association National Art Exhibition
              First Place Award, 1986           
• North East Watercolor Society Annual National Exhibition, 
              N.E.W.S. Award of Excellence, 1990, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005
• Northwest Watercolor Society 65th Annual Open Exhibition,
              First Place Award 2005, 2010
              Dale Meyers Cooper Medal, 2005                                   
• Pittsburgh Watercolor society Annual National Exhibition
              Best of Show, 2002
• Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition
              Colorado Centennial Award, 1976,
              Third Place Award, 2005

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

• Minnesota Marine Art Museum, Cheng-Khee Chee Retrospective 1980-2011 Marine Paintings and Old Turtle Illustrations, Winona, Minnesota, October 22, 2011-January 15, 2012
• Bloomington Art Center, Inez Greenberg Gallery Inaugural Exhibition, Bloomington, MN  August 14-September 27, 2003
• Minnesota Museum of American Art, St. Paul, MN. Sketches, Studies and Paintings from Old Turtle, May 29-August 17, 1997
• Penang State Art Gallery, Penang, Malaysia, March 17-April 15, 1997
• Singapore National Art Museum, Republic of Singapore, February 16-March 2, 1997
• U.S. Congress, Cannon House Office Building, Rotunda Gallery, Washington, D.C.,
              Paintings from The Old Turtle. October 31-November 5, 1993
• Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota Duluth
              Cheng-Khee Chee Watercolors 1973-82, A Retrospective, Dec.5, 1982-Jan.16, 1983
              Paintings from The Old Turtle. November 15, 1991-January 5, 1992
• China Academy of Fine Arts (Zhejiang Academy of F. Arts), Hangzhou, China, June 1-12, 1987
• Shanghai University, College of Fine Arts Gallery, Shanghai, P.R. of China. June 17-26, 1987
• Nanjing Normal University Art Exhibition Hall, Nanjing, P.R of China. July 3-10, 1987
• Fuzhou City May First Square Art Exhibition Hall, Fuzhou, China, July 19-31, 1987
• Shandong Province Art Museum, Jinan, China, August 13-28, 1987

SELECTED INVITATIONAL EXHIBITIONS:

• Third Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters, Nanjing, China, October 2012
• Second Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters, Nanjing, China, May 2010
• The Inaugural Shanghai Zhu Jia Jiao International Watercolor Biennial Exhibition, Zhu Jia Jiao, China, April 2010
• “Dynamic Watercolor”, Singapore Watercolor Society 40th Anniversary Exhibition, The ARTrium of MICA Building, Singapore, November 20-25, 2009
• “Waterborne, A Regional Exhibition of Watercolor”, Katherine Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota, November 11-December 11, 2008
• “Recalling of Penang Art Studio Exhibition”, Penang Art Museum and Gallery, Malaysia, September, 2008
• First Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters, Nanjing, China, November 9-22, 2007
• Singapore Watercolor Society 30th Anniversary Exhibition, The Paragon Atrium, Sept 17-22, 99
• Asian Watercolors ’97, Singapore STPB Head Office Tourism Court, October 25-31, 1997
• Asian Watercolors ‘98, Seoul, South Korea, 1998
• “Landscapes of Malaysia” an invitational exhibition of watercolors by members of the Malaysia Watercolour Organization, Malmo Konstmuseum, Malmo, Sweden, June 8-Aug 3, 1997
• Exhibition of Watercolors by the Artists of ROC, USA, and Australia
  Sponsored by the Taiwan National Art Education Institute and Taiwan National Watercolor Society, Chung Cheng Gallery in Taipei, Taiwan, March 19-April 14, 1994.
• “Picture This! Contemporary Children’s Book Illustration from Minnesota”
  Five paintings together with sketches and studies were included in this exhibition.
  Minneapolis College of Art and Design, November 15, 1992-January 7, 1993
• Asian American Renaissance Conference Visual Art Invitational Exhibition
  College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minnesota, May 1-3, 1992
• Metaphorical Fish. University of Minnesota Art Museum, Minneapolis
  June 18 - August 5, 1990. Toured through June 30, 1992
• Tweed Museum of Art 30th Anniversary Commemorative Exhibition
  Tweed Museum, University of Minnesota Duluth, MN, Oct 14 - Dec 29, 1988           
• Sumi-e Society of America 25th Anniversary Invitational Exhibition
  The National Arts Club, New York City, June 18 - June 29, 1988
• Sumi-e Society of America 20th Anniversary Invitational Exhibition
  Meridian House International, Washington, D.C. March 23 - April 30, 1983
• Watercolor Paintings by15 American Watercolor Society Members from the East Coast and the Midwest. Mitchell Museum, Mount Vernon, Illinois, Jan 8 - Feb 6, 1983
• “Works on Paper, An Invitational Exhibition of Prints, Watercolors, and Drawings by Minnesota Artists”, Minneapolis Institute Of Arts, November 30 - December 26, 1978

SERVING AS JUROR FOR NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL EXHINBITION:

• Juror of Selection and Awards, Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Exhibition, 2014
• Juror of Selection, American Watercolor Society International Exhibition, 2014
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Sumi-e Society of America Golden Jubilee National Exhibition, 2013
• Juror of Selection and Awards, the 4th Annual Signature American Watermedia Exhibition, Fallbrook Art Center, California, 2013
• Juror for the International Watercolor Society (Turkey) International Watercolor Exhibition, 2012
• Juror of Selection, Missouri Watercolor Society National Exhibition, 2012
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Gibson County (TN) Visual Art Association National Exhibition, 2012
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Watercolor Society of Indiana Annual Exhibition, 2012 · Juror of Selection and Awards, Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition, 2011
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Southern Watercolor Society, 2010
• Juror of Selection and Awards, San Antonio Watercolor Society, 2010
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Jacksonville Watercolor Society, 2010
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Southwestern Watercolor Society, 2009
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Ohio Watercolor Society, 2009
• Jury of Awards Member, American Watercolor Society International Exhibition, 2008
• Curator of North American Paintings for the First Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters, Nanjing, China, 2007
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Alabama Watercolor Society National Exhibition, 2007
• Juror of Awards, Watercolor Society of North Carolina Annual Exhibition, 2006
• Juror of Awards, Watercolor Magic Magazine Watermedia Showcase, Still Life Category, 2005
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Sumi-e Society of America National Exhibition, 2005
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Watercolor Art Society-Houston International Exhibition, 2005
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Virginia Watercolor Society 25th Exhibition, 2004
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Pittsburgh Watercolor Society National Exhibition, 2003
• Juror of Awards, Artist’s Magazine 2003 Art Competition Still Life category. 2003
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Niagara Watercolor Society National Exhibition, 2003
• Juror of Selection, California Watercolor Association National Exhibition, 2003
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Mississippi Watercolor Society National Exhibition, 2002
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Florida Watercolor Society National Exhibition, 2002
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Watercolor Art Society-Houston International Exhibition, 2002
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Kentucky Watercolor Society Aqueous USA 2001
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Arizona Watercolor Association Spring Exhibition, 2001
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Midwest Watercolor Society (Now Transparent Watercolor Society of America) 25th Anniversary National Exhibition, 2001
• Juror of Selection, National Watercolor Society International Exhibition, 2000
• Juror of Selection and Awards, San Diego Watercolor Society International Exhibition, 2000
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Louisiana Watercolor Society International Exhibition, 2000
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Sumi-e Society of America 34th National Exhibition, 1997
• Juror of Selection, American Watercolor Society International Exhibition, 2001 & 1994
• Juror of Selection, Adirondacks Exhibition of American Watercolors, 1992
• Juror of Selection, Midwest Watercolor Society (Now Transparent Watercolor Society of America) Annual National Exhibition, 1990

BOOKS

• The Watercolor World of Cheng-Khee Chee, Singapore Art Museum & Chee Studio, Duluth, MN, 1997 (208 pages, hardcover, 186 pages in color, 75 paintings on 2-page spreads)
• The Work of Cheng-Khee Chee, workshop instructional booklet, Chee Studio, 2003

CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS

• Old Turtle, text by Douglas Wood, watercolors by Cheng-Khee Chee. Duluth, MN. Pfeifer-Hamilton Publishers, 1991.
  The book received the following awards:
               1992 Minnesota Book Award for Young Children
               1992 Midwest Book Award for Best Children’s Book
               1993 International Reading Association Children’s Book Award
               1993 American Booksellers Association Book of the Year Award (ABBY)
• Swing Around the Sun, Poems by Barbara J. Esbensen, art by Cheng-Khee Chee and Others. Minneapolis, Carolrhoda Books, 2003
• Noel, Poems by Tony Johnston, artwork by Cheng-Khee Chee. Carolrhoda Books, 2005

INSTRUCTIONAL DVD’S

• The Many Styles of Cheng-Khee Chee, 6 vols. Albany, OR. Creative Catalyst, 2005
  www.ccpvideos.com

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOOKS & PERIODICALS

• Sterkhov, Konstantin. Masters of Watercolor. Music Planet, St Petersburg, 2012 p. 64-73
• Chee, Cheng-Khee, "Saturated Wet Paper Technique", The International Artist Oct/Nov 2013 p.100-107.
• Chee, Cheng-Khee. "A Crinkle in the Works", The Artist's Magazine Brushing Up Column p. 66-69.
• Chee, Cheng-Khee. "Saturated Wet Paper Technique" L'Art de L'Aquarelle, (French Watercolor Magazine The Art of Watercolor) issue No. 8, March-May, 2011 p.18-23, 84-85
• Swanson, Jon. "Marine Watercolors of Cheng-Khee Chee", Sea History magazine, Winter 2011/12 p. 34-37           
• Kapsner, Christiana. "Master of Watercolor", University of Minnesota, Duluth Bridge Magazine, July 2011 p. 8
• Yeoh, Sim Kean, "Cheng-Khee Chee Has Painted International Rainbows" Kwong Wah Daily Special Supplement (Penang, Malaysia, Text in Chinese), May 5, 2010
• Best of Watercolor, Rockport Publishers, 1995, 1997, 1999
• Chee, Cheng-Khee, “Wet and wild, Saturated Wet Paper Creates a Perfect Backdrop for Natural subjects”, Watercolor Artist, February 2009, p. 46-51
• Crouch, Loraine, “The Big Freeze, Cheng-Khee Chee: The Mind’s Eye”, The Artist’s Magazine, January 2003, p.32-33
• Danzl, Joni, “Strokes of Light in the wilderness”, Lake Superior Port Cities (Lake Superior Magazine) November, 1982, p. 18-24
• Fresh Flower: The Best of Flower Painting, North Light Publications, 1996
• Holman, Karlyn. Searching for the Artist Within, Bayfield Street Publishing, 2002
• Lok, Tok, “The Watercolor World of Cheng-Khee Chee” Kwong Wah Daily Sunday Supplement (Penang, Malaysia, Text in Chinese), October 12 & 19, 1986
• Mattson, Wendy, “Head of the Class”, Artist’s Magazine, March 2003, P. 56-61
• Price, Linda S. “the Ever-changing World of Cheng-Khee Chee”, Watercolor, an American Artist Publication, winter, 2002, p.24-35
• Ranson, Ron. Learn Watercolor The Edgar Whitney Way, North Light Pub. 1994
• Salminen, John, “East Meets West to Make Magic”, Watercolor Magic, summer, 2000
• Schaber, Greg. Paint Foliage Effortlessly, Watercolorist Cheng-Khee Chee Reveals His Secrets for Creating Realistic Texture. Artist’s Magazine, December 1997
• Splash 3 (1994), 4 (1996), 5 (1998)North Light Publications
• Zhu Jinlou, “Beginning with Abstraction, Finishing with Realism: the Theory and Practice of Watercolorist Cheng-Khee Chee”, Xin Shu (New Art, Journal of Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts, Text in Chinese) June1987, p. 13-14
• Zhou, Shicheng, “The Watercolor Painting of Cheng-Khee Chee”, Xin Mei Shu (New Art, Journal of Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts, Text in Chinese) June1987, p. 15-16
• Chee, Cheng-Khee, “A Survey of Watercolor Painting in the 20th Century”, A Tribute to the First Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters, Exhibition Publication, Nanjing, 2007

• Coordinated with the Jiangsu Watercolor Research Institute in Nanjing, China to organize the Second Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters". The exhibition was held in Nanjing from May 28-June 6, 2010
• Coordinated with the Jiangsu Watercolor Research Institute in Nanjing, China to organize the “First Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters”. 68 artists representing 13 countries worldwide were included. The exhibition was held in Nanjing from November 19 through December 2, 2007, and other cities.
• Coordinated with Katherine Chang Liu to select 40 American watercolorists’ works for “The International Exhibition of Works by the Artists of ROC, USA, and Australia” Sponsored by the Taiwan Art Education Institute and Taiwan Watercolor Society. The Exhibition was held at the Chung Cheng Gallery in Taipei, March 19-April 14, 1994.
• Held one-man exhibition and gave public lecture at the Singapore National Art Museum, Republic of Singapore, February 16-March 2, 1997
• Held one-man exhibition and gave public lecture at the Penang State Art Gallery, Penang, Malaysia, March 17-April 15, 1997
• Exhibited and gave lectures and demonstrations on watercolor painting in Chinese cities of Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Qingdao, Jinan, Guangzhou, Changsha, Nanchang, and Tianjin, 1984-1988
• Instrumental in establishing the University of Minnesota, Duluth “Chinese Landscape Painting and Watercolor Painting Program” at the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts (now China Academy of Fine Arts) in Hangzhou. Led the first three groups of American artists to China, May 20-July 14, 1984; May 20-July 20, 1985 and June 14 July 29, 1986.
• Co-led (with Prof. Robert Evans) the University of Minnesota Duluth “Watercolor and Culture Adventures in England” tour. July 7-25, 1983.
• Organized and co-led (with Mr. Terry Anderson) the University of Minnesota, Duluth,“Art and Crafts Tour of China”, Aug 1-22, 1982