Ben Xu is from Houston, Texas. He was raised in a family of artists, and began his training in the style of realism at an early age. He earned his Master's Degree in Art in painting at Sam Houston University in 1997. He has participated in many group and solo exhibitions both nationally and internationally. A number of his works were collected by Sam Houston State University, the Metropolitan, the Provincial, the Regional Governments in China, and private individuals. His goal is to produce inspirational paintings that touch the soul, capture imagination, and have a timeless quality. Inspired by the world's myths, fables, and tales of imagination, Xu wants his works to be perceived as more than solely beautiful. He creates compelling compositions with harmonious palettes, and an emphasis on light and value. He sees his corpus as "accessible abstractions and miraculous realism," and aims to allow viewers to see the extraordinary in the everyday, as well as to create a tranquil, dreamy, and contemplative mood. In 2014, Xu turned to miniature oil paintings. Most of his miniatures are approximately 2 x 2.5." These works capture landscapes and other outdoor scenes, while maintaining his aim to convey the brilliance of these spaces. Paintings of such a small size and detail require an additional high degree of skill only attained after years of training. Xu is a member of the Oil Painters of America, the American Color Pencil Association, the Watercolor Association of America, the Asian-American Fine Art Association, and the Chinese Artist Association, P.R. China.