It’s a sunny Sunday in the CBD, in the cool, high-ceilinged gallery space of Espace Louis Vuitton Beijing – an outpost of the Louis Vuitton Foundation art museum in Paris. The “LV” could stand for little-visited, compared to its better-known retail sibling at Guomao (China World Mall). Find this outdoor storefront and next door you’ll step into the gallery, which hosts changing, thoughtfully curated exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. Currently, “Painting from Nature” is on display until October, showcasing works by abstract expressionists Joan Mitchell and Megan Rooney.
But today, a group of children are enjoying Espace LV not only as museumgoers but as budding artists. They are under the tutelage of Jennifer Chung, known to her young clientele as “Ms. Jen,” the founder and director of JEN Art Academy. She begins with a tour of the artworks, drawing out children’s interpretations: “The yellow looks happy,” says one child about a vibrant triptych by Mitchell, while another sees “a magical forest” in Rooney’s echo of Monet’s Waterlilies.
Next, the children settle at their workstations to create: silk paintings layered with gold foil and mounted on canvas. Drawing from the exhibition’s expressive vision of nature, their silk-and-gold creations echo the exhibit’s themes while reflecting something entirely their own. It’s this kind of intentional, layered learning that Jen imbues into every program she leads.
Jen’s own journey took her from high school in Hong Kong to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) – often dubbed the “Harvard of art schools” – for a degree in textiles. “RISD was life-changing,” she reflects. “I found a community of passionate, like-minded creatives who pushed me to grow and consistently develop original ideas. Anticipating today’s AI-driven world, RISD gave me the tools to lead with creativity.”
After graduating, Jen entered the fast-paced world of luxury fashion, working with brands like Dior, Versace, and Van Cleef & Arpels in Hong Kong. “Understanding the business side of global luxury was eye-opening,” she says. “I was fortunate to gain that firsthand.”
After moving to Beijing in 2017, Jen deepened her experience in educational leadership – first as principal of a local arts high school, and later as art education director at Dulwich College Group, where she designed a specialized arts track. “The pathway allowed students to spend three out of five school days fully immersed in art and design,” she explains. “I developed a comprehensive curriculum that combined concept and theory classes with foundational skills training. Most importantly, they completed their entire university portfolio during class time – giving them the preparation to get into their dream schools and thrive once they got there.”
In 2023, JEN Art Academy was born from a gap Jen encountered over and over in her work with students and families: Many young people dream of entering creative fields – architecture, fashion, animation, game design – but lack the structured support to get there.
“There’s a real gap,” Jen says. “So many talented students don’t know how to build the kind of portfolio top-tier universities are looking for. That’s where we come in.”
Located in Beijing’s Chaoyang District near the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), JEN Art Academy offers a clear, age-based progression to support students from the earliest stages to competitive college applications:
- Grades 1-4: early exposure programs that spark curiosity and build foundational skills through weekend classes and summer camps
- Grades 5-8: pre-portfolio foundations with a focus on drawing, design thinking, and visual storytelling
- Grades 9-12: intensive portfolio preparation for students applying to leading global art and design universities
The Academy’s curriculum is built on the RISD approach, leveraging creativity as a tool for original problem-solving. “It’s never just about technique,” Jen emphasizes. “We teach students to think like designers, starting with observation and exploration then moving into self-expression, innovation and confidence.”
This summer, JEN Art Academy invites young creators ages 6-13 to explore three immersive camp themes that spark imagination and build hands-on design skills. In Super Mario Game Design, kids reimagine their favorite game universe by designing characters, power-ups and fantastical worlds. Primitive Pioneers takes campers back in time to invent tools, build shelters and experiment with tribal-inspired fashion. And in Historical Horizons, students journey through ancient civilizations, bringing history to life through architecture, jewelry-making, animation and more. Each five-day camp is led by Jen’s team of educators and taught in English, with bilingual support available.
For high school students aiming for top global art and design universities, JEN Art Academy offers a rigorous College Prep Program. Drawing from her experience as a former RISD admissions officer, Jen has crafted a curriculum that mirrors the creative rigor and originality elite schools expect. Students develop concept-driven portfolios tailored to institutions like RISD, Parsons, and UAL, while receiving one-on-one mentorship throughout the entire application process, from idea generation to personal statements and interview prep. With a blend of real studio practice and design thinking, the program equips aspiring creatives to apply to top schools – and it currently boasts a 100 percent acceptance rate.
“I am super proud of our students and of our team who nurture their talents,” Jen says. “We’re growing fearless, original thinkers for the future.”
Find it:
JEN Art Academy
B02, Cathy Plaza, 2 Xiangjiang Beilu, Chaoyang District (next to Rivera/Roundabout)
Images: Tara Fegelein, JEN Art Academy
