Adrian Cheng

Adrian Cheng Chi-kong (Chinese: 鄭志剛, born in 1979), founder of K11 and K11 Art Foundation, Executive Vice-chairman and Joint General Manager of New World Development, and executive director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group,^[1] is a business tycoon and cultural entrepreneur in Hong Kong,^[2] also a well-known art patron.

Adrian Cheng 鄭志剛
Born	1979 (age 36–37) Hong Kong
Alma mater	Harvard University
Occupation	Founder of K11 and K11 Art Foundation, Executive Vice-Chairman of New World Development
Spouse(s)	Jennifer Yu
Parent(s)	Henry Cheng (father)
Relatives	Cheng Yu-tung (grandfather) Sonia Cheng (younger sister)
Awards	Honorary Doctorate of Humanities degree, SCAD Honorary Fellowship, Lingnan University ArtReview 2014 Power 100

Family background and education

Born in 1979, Cheng is the grandson and designated heir of one of China’s most influential business families,^[3][4] set to inherit a large part of the empire built by his grandfather, Cheng Yu-tung, whose holdings were worth an estimated US$16.6 billion shortly before his death in 2016, according to Forbes magazine.^[5] Family holdings include the Chow Tai Fook jewellery chain and New World Development group.^[4][6]

Cheng read East Asian studies at Harvard University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree before going to Japan to study Japanese culture for a year.^[6]

He has two younger brothers and a younger sister.

Business career

Following a two-year stint at UBS AG^[1][3] Cheng joined the family business,^[6] becoming Executive Vice-Chairman at New World Development in 2015,^[7] the biggest part of the family’s private Chow Tai Fook Holdings empire. He also serves as an executive director and board member.^{[3][8][9][10][11]}

Cheng introduced the concept of "museum-retail" ^[12] by founding the K11 brand in 2008. He later founded the K11 Art Foundation (KAF) in 2010 which serves as a platform for Chinese artists and their works.^{[3][6][13][14][15]}

Cheng was involved in founding the K11 Art Foundation, which promotes Chinese art.^[16][13]

In 2015, Cheng weaved a new brand personality “The Artisanal Movement”^[17] to New World Group,^[18] which represents a new approach to its products and services injected with touch of artistry.^[19] Well exemplified by new residential projects with collections of artworks by world-renowned artists amassed for the common areas.^[20]

Art patron

In 2010, Cheng founded the non-profit K11 Art Foundation to support young Chinese contemporary and groom a new generation of audiences for contemporary art.^[21] He initiated collaborations between K11 Art Foundation and international museums and art institutions such as Palais de Tokyo in Paris^[22] and Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London,^[23] showcasing artistic talents from China and also facilitating cross-cultural dialogues within the global art scene. The Foundation also have an art village in Wuhan with studios to nurture young artists from China.^[24] Cheng was included in ArtReview Power100 in 2014 (#100) ^[25] and 2015 (#76),^[26] and is also the Top 10 Young Art Collectors on Larry’s List, as well as 20 of the World's Most Innovative Art Collectors on artnet.^[27]

Current positions

• Board Director of the National Museum of China Foundation^[28]
• Director of the China Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum (CAFAM) Funds^[29]
• Trustee of Royal Academy of Arts^[30]
• Visiting Committee of The Metropolitan Museum of Art^[30]
• Member of TATE’s Asia Pacific Acquisitions Committee^[30]
• Member of International Circle of Centre Pompidou^[30]
• Board of Directors, MoMA PS1^[31]

See also

• Cheng Yu-tung
• K11 (Hong Kong)
• K11 Art Foundation
• Chow Tai Fook Enterprises
• New World Development

References