At Pace Gallery in Beijing, Chinese oil painter Mao Yan is presenting his first solo exhibition.

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Featured works include several pieces from his best-known Thomas Series from the late 1990s and a few unconventional portraits of animals. Two large-scale portraits of naked women painted this year are the artist's first-ever showing of this kind.

Mao was named the most influential oil painter of 2012 at the 7th Award of Art China in May. He along with three other artists will also be announced as the 2013 Martell Artists of the Year in mid-June.

Mao Yan's artwork on display. [Photo by Zhang Zixuan/China Daily]