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.

Family background and education

Born in 1979, Cheng is the grandson and designated heir of one of Hong Kong's and 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.^[5] Family holdings include the Chow Tai Fook jewellery chain and New World Development group.^[4][6]

Cheng majored in East Asian studies at Harvard University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts 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.

Art patron

He founded the K11 Art Foundation (KAF) in 2010 which serves as a platform for Chinese artists and their works.^{[3][6][13][14][15][16][17]} He initiated collaborations between K11 Art Foundation and international museums and art institutions such as Palais de Tokyo in Paris^[18] and Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London,^[19] 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.^[20] Cheng was included in ArtReview Power100 in 2014 (ranked number 100)^[21] and 2015 (ranked number 76),^[22] 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.^[23]

Current positions

• Board Director of the National Museum of China Foundation^[24]
• Director of the China Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum (CAFAM) Funds^[25]
• Trustee of Royal Academy of Arts^[26]
• Visiting Committee of The Metropolitan Museum of Art^[26]
• Member of TATE’s Asia Pacific Acquisitions Committee^[26]
• Member of International Circle of Centre Pompidou^[26]
• Board of Directors, MoMA PS1^[27]

References