China's Picasso: Fan Zeng disappears with young wife and billions in art

A bitter family dispute has broken out involving Fan Zeng, one of China's most expensive living painters, after his daughter accused the artist’s much younger wife of removing valuable artworks and antiques while he was away from home.

Internationally, Fan is especially recognized in Japan, where he became one of the few foreign artists to have a dedicated museum, following in the footsteps of Pablo Picasso.

Like Picasso, who has two wives and six mistresses, Fan’s personal life has drawn public attention. He has been married four times and made headlines when he married Xu—50 years his junior—in 2023.

Daughter accuses step-mother of removing artworks

On Saturday, Fan’s daughter Fan Xiaohui alleged online that her 87-year-old father had been taken away by his 36-year-old wife Xu Meng, raising concerns about his health and safety.

She claimed that decades of paintings, calligraphy, and antiques were packed up and removed from the family residence, which was later sealed. Longtime household staff were reportedly dismissed, further fueling speculation of internal conflict.

Her post came amid online rumors suggesting Xu had transferred artworks and antiques worth over 2 billion yuan (HK$2.18 billion) in batches over the past three months.

Stepson denies allegations with recent photos

The claims were quickly countered by posts believed to be from Fan’s stepson, Fan Yifu, who shared photos of the artist attending an exhibition in late July.

The images showed Fan appearing in good spirits alongside Xu, seemingly contradicting accusations of foul play. Xu's loose-fitting attire in the pictures also sparked speculation on social media about a possible pregnancy, though no confirmation has been made.

Fan Zeng's legacy in Chinese and international art

Born in 1938 in Jiangsu, Fan Zeng has long been celebrated as a national treasure in Chinese art circles, particularly for his ink paintings and calligraphy.

• He has consistently ranked among the Hurun Most Successful Chinese Living Artists since 2010, topping the list in 2011 and 2012.
• His auction sales over the past 15 years total about 3.5 billion yuan, with several works fetching hundreds of millions.
• His most expensive piece, Four Arts, sold for 430 million yuan.

Complex family ties

The family dynamics surrounding Fan Zeng have added layers to the current dispute.

• Fan Yifu, who defended Xu, is the son of Fan’s third wife from a previous marriage but later adopted the Fan surname.
• Fan also claims descent from the historical figure Fan Zhongyan, a renowned Song dynasty scholar and politician.
• Earlier in his career, Fan worked as an assistant to modern novelist Shen Congwen, though the two reportedly fell out during the Cultural Revolution.

A dispute with billions at stake

With Fan's net worth estimated at 1 billion yuan and artworks valued at multiple billions in total, the stakes in this family feud are exceptionally high.

The unfolding drama has captivated Chinese social media, where debates rage not only about the alleged disappearance of Fan's art collection but also about inheritance battles, family loyalty, and the influence of younger spouses in high-profile marriages.

STAFF REPORTER