Illuminated: The Figurative Art of Jia Lu is a visual exploration of myth and magic by an internationally beloved artist. Long recognized as a leading figure in Chinese and American art, Jia Lu has held more than two hundred exhibitions of her highly detailed figurative paintings since moving to North America in 1983. Yet no full-color collection of her work has been available until now. Illuminated collects 106 oil paintings completed between 2002 and 2007, as Jia Lu continues her exploration of the human body. Drawing the viewer into a world of radiance and refinement, Jia Lu's ethereal paintings capture the transience of physical beauty, blending realism of form with the spirit and wisdom of her subjects. One hundred and fifty-nine color plates, including forty-three full-page color details, are accompanied by Jia Lu's reflections on her work and insights into her life as an artist.