Linjie Deng Talks “Still Warm” Exhibition, Art Evolution, and The Hamptons Fine Art Fair

The 19th Annual Hamptons Fine Art Fair will take place from July 10 to 13, 2025, at the Southampton Fairgrounds in a stunning 70,000-square-foot complex. The fair is set to showcase over 120 exhibitors and galleries from around the world. A Hamptons Fine Art Fair favorite, Linjie Deng, returns this year with a new exhibition titled Still Warm, a series reflecting on human connection, desire, and fleeting moments. 

His work is beautiful, thought-provoking, and deeply vulnerable. At the Hamptons Fine Art Fair, you can check out Linjie’s Still Warm exhibition at Booth #338 

Hamptons.com sat down with Linjie to dive deeper into some of the pieces from the exhibition.

This is your fifth time exhibiting at the Hamptons Fine Art Fair. How has your art evolved over these five years?

I used to paint to prove something—mostly to myself. Now, I paint to ask something. This year’s series, Still Warm, is about moments that feel deeply human—small but unforgettable.

Tell us about the painting Where Are You—it’s both playful and critical.

That painting started with a joke: “I put the ocean in my bathtub.” These days, we’re all drowning in AI, social media, breaking news. We feel like we’re everywhere at once. But really? We haven’t moved an inch.

We thought we were surfing the ocean. Nah—we’re just sitting in the tub, scrolling TikTok. So I painted this to ask a simple question: Where are you?

One of your paintings was inspired by a quiet evening with a friend. Why did that moment move you?

This one was inspired by my friend Gray. One night, after weeks of painting nonstop, he invited me over. I was on his couch checking emails. He was quietly folding his underwear, lining them up in his drawer. And in that quiet moment, I suddenly felt like I was home—even though I hadn’t seen my family in China for 7 years. Art gives me ambition. But sometimes, it makes me forget how to live.

In this painting, Gray jumps into the pool—not for achievement, just for joy. And I’m still on the lounge chair, working on my laptop. It’s about that moment—when something ordinary becomes unforgettable. Some things can’t be painted. They have to be lived.

This painting shows a lily being passed from one hand to another. What is it expressing?

“Passing It On” was created to mark my ten-year anniversary in New York, from 2015 to 2025. I arrived here as a 23-year-old graduate student. Ten years later, at 33, I feel transformed—not just as an artist, but as a person. This city has challenged me, shaped me, and ultimately helped me grow into who I am today. The painting shows one hand offering a lily to another. It’s a gesture of giving, of connection. For me, it’s about finally being ready to open myself up—to pass on the love, kindness, and encouragement I’ve received along the way. There’s a point when you stop chasing applause and start sharing it.

I hope to always stay curious. I hope to keep making new friends. And I hope this painting reminds others that generosity can be as simple—and as powerful—as offering a flower. I want to give special thanks to the friends who helped me complete this painting: Ashley and Jordan, who generously modeled their hands for this painting. 

One of your new paintings is about tennis, and it connects to the idea of inner peace. How so?

I’ve played tennis for over six years. It keeps my body healthy—but to win, you need inner peace. Tennis is about rhythm, control, and timing. Just like life—it’s not won in one big moment, but point by point. This painting is about finding inner peace, even while you sweat.

This year’s exhibition is called Still Warm. What does that title mean to you?

It means the moment hasn’t passed yet. The memory is still fresh. The feeling still lingers. It’s like holding a cup of tea that someone made for you—it’s still warm. I hope when you walk away from my work, it still feels—just a little warm.

Get your tickets at https://hamptonsfineartfair.com