About Us

Li Kui was born in 1968 in Yongqing County, Hebei Province, into a carving family. His ancestors have been making a living by carving olive pits since the late Qing Dynasty. Li Kui has been shuttling between carving knives and olive pits since he was a child. The aroma of sawdust and the sound of carving in the family workshop planted the seeds of art in his heart early on. His father, Li Ye, was his enlightenment mentor and taught him the basic techniques. As his skills improved, Li Kui, with his passion for olive pit carving, visited major olive pit carving schools in Suzhou and studied under many famous masters. He integrated the delicate knife skills passed down from generation to generation in his family with the flexible ideas of various schools, and his carving skills have reached perfection. Today, Li Kui’s works not only inherit the essence of tradition, but also incorporate innovative ideas. His style is unique and ingenious. He is well-known in the cultural and art circles and is praised as the “Li School”, becoming a leader in contemporary olive pit carving art.