A children's world in which artistic expression is encouraged

Ten years ago, then 9-year-old Yan Zhuorong drew a kitten — small, fluffy, and slightly crooked-tailed — as her entry for the first-ever Little Genius Children's Painting Competition. She had no idea that the sketch would spark a decade-long creative journey.

"Looking at my drawing, I realized art wasn't just fun; it's a way to express my emotions and the things I love," Yan recalls.

Since then, she's kept going. That crooked-tailed kitten carried her from childhood sketchbooks to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she now majors in Visual &Critical Studies, continuing to paint, write, sculpt, and even write songs.

"For me, art is part of life. As a child, it gave me endless, simple joy. As I grew up, it gave me the strength to get through difficult times," she says.

The competition is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and Yan is returning not with crayons but stories of joy, hardship, and her hope that more children will discover "the courage to express themselves and the joy of being understood" through art.

This month, Beijing's Central Academy of Fine Arts Art Museum opened its doors to the 10th I Love Colors: Little Genius Children's Painting Competition exhibition. Themed "A Beautiful Tomorrow", the show features 150 selected works chosen from more than 1,600 entries by children nationwide.

Cohosted by Ai Jing Studio and the CAFA Art Museum, the exhibition runs until Aug 22 and celebrates the creativity and emotional depth of young artists.

"Children's artworks reveal the purest of emotions and an innate artistic sensibility," says Jin Jun, director of the museum. "They are genuine expressions of innocence and creativity.

"Our museum doesn't just exhibit classics. We also strive to provide a platform where children's imaginations can be seen, recorded, and treasured. I hope every child here plants seeds of art and finds a space for expression," he says.

Project founder and artist Ai Jing described the initiative as "a decade-long commitment; a relay of love made possible through the collective support of judges, volunteers, parents, children, and friends from all walks of life".

The idea for the project was born in 2014, when Ai was inspired by a piece her nephew painted. With a strong backing by Chen Lyusheng, then-deputy director of the National Museum of China, the project took shape.

"With Chen's help, we formed a jury panel of artists, collectors, and art educators from China and abroad. Each year, these judges generously give their time to select outstanding works and write critiques for the young artists," Ai recalls.

Over the past decade, the exhibition has toured cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an in Shaanxi province, leaving a colorful mark on different regions.

Ai also reflects on the decade-long journey, noting that "the children's works not only record their individual growth but also reflect the artistic imprint of an era".

To commemorate the milestone, the organizing committee will release the book Love is Like a Seed: A Decade of the "I Love Colors" Public Art Project. The publication features award-winning pieces from past competitions along with essays by the jurors, serving as a record of the project's impact and a resource for exploring public art and children's creativity in the future.

This year's exhibition also includes a retrospective section, inviting selected past winners to showcase their works alongside those of the current year's winners to create dialogue between generations of young artists.

Dominique Levy, a French collector and one of the jurors, says that sustaining a public art competition for children over 10 years is "deeply meaningful".

"I hope that through this painting competition, generations of Chinese children who love art will be inspired, and that more outstanding works can be discovered and nurtured by professional artists, curators, and art museums," she says.

"I hope more art teachers will get involved as well, bringing this creative spirit into their classrooms and allowing art to become part of children's growth."