Echopedia

Stone Chen (陳文石)

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Stone Chen (陳文石)

Stone Chen is the public / legal English name on TAH Who’s Who (English Name: Stone Chen). 陳文石 is the 漢名. Chen Wenshi is a Pinyin dump — display only, not the legal EN. Slug stays chen-wenshi. Alias page: stone-chen.

Identity Snapshot

  • English (legal / TAH): Stone Chen
  • Chinese: 陳文石
  • Also seen: Chen Wenshi (Pinyin; not the TAH English field)
  • Born: 1943, 宜蘭 / Ilan
  • Core roles: painter; interior designer; educator; community leader
  • US: Los Angeles / San Gabriel area from 1979 (TAH) — 2023 TAHS pub also says 1979; CNA/TJ 2020 says 1978. Keep both.
  • Content priority: A (2023 TAHS 菁英錄 + TAH Who’s Who)
  • Geography: 宜蘭 → Taipei → Los Angeles

Overview

Stone Chen (陳文石) is profiled in the 2023 TAHS Publication (台美菁英錄 第二輯) and TAH Who’s Who. Taiwanese American artist, interior designer, and entrepreneur. Life spans Japanese colonial rule, 228, Taiwan’s industrial boom, and emigration to the United States. Career: street-vendor painter and factory work → interior design / real estate in Taiwan → painting, motels, and civic posts in LA.

Career

Early Life and Artistic Beginnings

  • Born in 1943 in Sanshing Village, Sanxing Township, Yilan County, Taiwan, during Japanese colonial rule
  • His father worked for the Japanese Mitsui Trading Company and later managed the Pinglin Forestry Company under Japanese rule
  • During the 1945 American bombings of Taiwan, his family took shelter in an air raid shelter; his family’s home was destroyed by napalm
  • In 1947, the 228 Incident occurred during his childhood; his father lost his job when the Japanese colonial administration was replaced by Chinese Nationalist officials
  • His family’s land was forcibly exchanged for worthless agricultural and mining stocks, and their savings were confiscated
  • His father abandoned the family and never returned; Chen grew up without his father, raised by his mother and grandmother
  • His mother was a primary school teacher who supported the family through difficult times
  • As a child, he listened to classical music and read colorful world geography books; he developed a strong interest in drawing and aspired to become a painter
  • His mother encouraged his artistic ambitions despite financial hardship

Early Career and Struggles

  • After elementary school, he attended Taiwan Taichung Commercial High School, walking barefoot to school and binding books with cloth tied around his waist
  • In junior high, he passed the national abacus certification exam and worked at a land bank during summer breaks
  • After high school, he worked in the tax collection office but also studied English at a Catholic church at night to prepare for university
  • In 1960, he was admitted to National Cheng Kung University’s Foreign Language Department, studying English, French, and Japanese
  • During university, he worked as a teaching assistant and taught abacus to support himself
  • After graduation in 1964, he worked in the tax collection office briefly before deciding to pursue art
  • He enrolled in the Hsinsheng Art & Craft School, studying commercial art, but dropped out after one semester due to financial pressures
  • He worked as an apprentice at a craft company, earning 50 NT per month
  • He and his family lived in pig and cow barns by the riverside, losing all their belongings to floods twice

Artistic Development and Success

  • He encountered a painter named Yu Tianxiong who taught him traditional Chinese painting, advertising art, temple crafts, festival cards, paper flowers, lanterns, and kites
  • He began selling his paintings, including Chinese landscapes, at Yangming Road in Taipei, earning approximately 4,000 NT per month
  • He was introduced to Eastern painting (Japanese art) by teacher Chen Ching-hui and later studied sketching under Li Shiqiao
  • At age 22, he re-enrolled at the Hsinsheng Art & Craft School, balancing daytime classes with freelance design work and supporting his girlfriend (future wife) and younger sister
  • He became a successful commercial artist in Taipei, with foreign merchants and celebrities commissioning his work
  • At age 24, he purchased his first house in a Taipei suburb for 40,000 NT
  • At age 27, he bought a second residence on Taipei’s Minsheng East Road for 220,000 NT
  • He established himself as a leading interior designer in Taiwan, training the first generation of professional interior design graduates at Cultural University

Business Ventures and International Experience

  • In the early 1970s, he partnered with Japanese returnee Qiu Wanhong to produce Taiwan’s earliest modular furniture
  • Their company produced high-quality furniture at half the market price, achieving strong sales success
  • He learned business management and cost control from Qiu Wanhong
  • In 1971, he and Qiu invested in stocks through a major stock market crash, losing 2 million NT — a painful lesson in the importance of understanding investments
  • He expanded his business through the Swap Meet market system, eventually becoming a major figure in the industry
  • In 1979, he emigrated to the United States with his family, selling all his Taiwan assets at a 1:46 exchange rate, a decision he later regretted as he missed Taiwan’s economic boom

Life in the United States

  • Upon arriving in Los Angeles, he and his wife purchased a small house in San Gabriel and a five-unit apartment with minimal remaining funds
  • He worked as a painter of houses and buildings, earning the nickname “paint Chen”
  • He was discovered by Zhu Minzhong, a bank manager at the first Chinese bank in LA (Wan Tong Bank), who introduced him to numerous job opportunities
  • He purchased tax-delinquent land through the LA County Treasury Department, earning enough to invest in real estate
  • He studied hotel management at Pomona University and obtained a real estate license
  • In 1984, he built his first 26-unit motel at the corner of San Gabriel Boulevard and the 10 Freeway, securing a loan through Zhu Minzhong’s guarantee at Wan Tong Bank
  • He developed multiple motel and commercial properties, including 68-unit and 58-unit motels
  • In 1988, he shifted focus to pure investment, beginning world travel with his wife by cruise ship
  • He invested in Thailand’s stock market, purchasing shares in BBL Bank when the Thai stock index was at 660, achieving significant returns
  • In 1989, he visited Shanghai but decided against investing due to political risks
  • In 1991, he held his first art exhibition in Los Angeles with the theme “Nostalgia for Home,” featuring rural Taiwanese scenes that resonated deeply with fellow Taiwanese

TAH Who’s Who (named rows — not a second bio)

TAH card title Stone Chen 陳文石. English Name = Stone Chen. Do not overwrite the 2023 narrative above with these rows.

YearFactSource
1969復興美術工藝學校畢業 (Fu-Shing Art and Vocational School)TAH EN + ZH
1974–75師大美術系 — TAH table says 1974 B.S. 美術; TAH prose says 1975. Not the same claim as the 2023 pub’s 1960–64 成大外文TAH
1976文化大學任教TAH
1976邱永漢關係企業求美藝術公司總經理TAH ZH (2023 pub romanizes a partner as Qiu Wanhong — do not merge or split without another source)
1979Immigrated; settled Los AngelesTAH
1984北美洲文藝協會會員TAH
1985聖谷藝術協會會員TAH
1990SCTUF-invited oil solo; 北美台灣人文藝協會藝術成就獎TAH
1991北美洲台灣文藝協會會長TAH
1994With 林顯模: 李石樵美術館, 藝術總監TAH — no person pages yet
1995With 林哲雄醫師 et al.: 台灣望春風文化出版社TAH
2000民進黨美西黨部主委TAH; CNA/TJ 2020 also says 曾任民主進步黨美西黨部主委
2006全僑和平民主聯盟總盟理事長TAH
2007–08Chairman, [[organizations/taiwan-center|大洛杉磯台灣會館]]
2018-08-09Co-coordinator, 蕭泰然音樂節 / Maestro [[people/tyzen-hsiao|Tyzen Hsiao]] Music Festival, LA

Education conflict, keep both: 2023 TAHS pub: 1960 成大外文, 1964 graduate. TAH: 1969 復興美工, 1974/75 師大美術. Do not flatten into one degree.

Legacy

Cultural Advocacy and Community Building

  • He established the North American Taiwanese Artists Association in 1991, the largest overseas Taiwanese art organization
  • He organized the “North American Taiwanese Artists Joint Exhibition” to introduce Taiwanese-American artists to the broader community
  • He donated 8,000 NT from his first art exhibition proceeds to the Taiwan United Foundation for cultural arts activities
  • He supported the “Full Vision” movement to break through KMT media monopolies
  • He co-invested in the “Chunfeng Publishing House” to publish Taiwanese cultural literature
  • He participated in Taiwan’s democratic movement and was involved in overseas Taiwan democratic reform activities
  • He held numerous exhibitions across the United States and internationally, including shows in New York, San Francisco, Paris, and Tokyo

Artistic Philosophy

  • He believes that art should be a personal expression, not merely commercial work — he refused to accept commissioned copies of his paintings
  • His artwork reflects his deep connection to Taiwanese rural life and his nostalgia for his homeland
  • He views his life journey as embodying the resilience of the Taiwanese people through decades of political and social change
  • His artistic career demonstrates the transition from survival-focused labor to creative fulfillment, enabled by the freedoms of life in the United States

Works

chen-wenshi — 2 title hits, 5 body mentions in the taiwanjustice.net harvest. Listed: last 5 years, up to 8/year. Full index: taiwanjustice.net.

2025 (1)

  1. 看寶石激發創作靈感，陳文石相隔28年返台展畫

2024 (1)

  1. [[articles/taiwanjustice-net/2024/20240225151323_root_622221d578f3cb3e|蘇奕榮．陳文石藝壇雙傑 台南台江文化中心跨年展[影]]]

Body mentions (5)

See the source hub. Top mentions:

  1. 2021年南加州僑界支持台灣參與世界衛生大會(WHA)聯合聲明
  2. 2021年南加州僑界支持台灣參與世界衛生大會(WHA)聯合聲明
  3. 台美人台加人
  4. 台灣人文藝術
  5. 1~2,

Timeline

Chronological events for 陳文石:

2025 (1 events)

  • 2025-04-12 🏛️ 台灣人文藝術

2024 (1 events)

  • 2024-02-21 🏛️ 台灣人文藝術

2023 (1 events)

  • 2023-12-18 🕯️ 蘇奕榮．陳文石藝壇雙傑 台南台江文化中心跨年展[影]

2021 (1 events)

  • 2021-05-17 🏥 2021年南加州僑界支持台灣參與世界衛生大會(WHA)聯合聲明

2020 (4 events)

  • 2020-03-21 📰 看寶石激發創作靈感，陳文石相隔28年返台展畫
  • 2020-06-13 🕯️ 藝文
  • 2020-06-23 📰 大洛杉磯台灣會館
  • 2020-11-25 🕯️ 台美人台加人

2019 (1 events)

  • 2019-07-16 📰 台灣鄉情與文化

2018 (1 events)

  • 2018-03-02 🏥 ‘Tag: 長青教室’

2017 (2 events)

  • 2017-03-14 🏛️ The Beauty of Taiwan-Heart of Asia Exhibition & Art Talk 台灣之美‧亞洲之心國際巡迴展 4/1~2,
  • 2017-11-09 🏥 台美人台加人 | Taiwan Justice | 台灣公義網

Quotes

Notable quotes and mentions of 陳文石 in Taiwan Justice articles:

2025 (1 quotes)

  1. “mber 21, 2023 以立合唱團在高雄衛武營演唱的「希望之光」第一樂章「苦難」 播出了(之二) 台灣人文藝術 December 21, 2023 蘇奕榮．陳文石藝壇雙傑 台南台江文化中心跨年展[影] 台灣人文藝術 December 18, 2023 1 2 3 … 87 Page 2 of 87” — 台灣人文藝術 (2025-04-12)

2024 (1 quotes)

  1. “章「安慰」 播出了(之三) 以立合唱團在高雄衛武營演唱的「希望之光」第一樂章「苦難」 播出了(之二) 台灣人文藝術 December 21, 2023 蘇奕榮．陳文石藝壇雙傑 台南台江文化中心跨年展[影] 台灣人文藝術 December 18, 2023 侯友宜外交政見搭配合照 葛來儀：別暗示我挺侯 台灣人文藝術 Decem” — 台灣人文藝術 (2024-02-21)

2023 (2 quotes)

  1. “臺南市政府文化局台江文化中心在2023年推出建庄二百年系列活動後，將以跨年特展雙個展方式，壓軸推出「看見蘇奕榮—迎接2024台江第一道曙光油畫展」、「大器璞玉—陳文石台江特展」二檔展覽，帶給觀眾耳目一新的藝術體驗。 藝術家蘇奕榮是道道地地的臺南人，曾於國內外多次舉辦展覽，多年來致力於油畫創作，積極參與藝文團體擔任要職，成績斐” — 蘇奕榮．陳文石藝壇雙傑 台南台江文化中心跨年展[影] (2023-12-18)
  2. “二檔展覽，帶給觀眾耳目一新的藝術體驗。 藝術家蘇奕榮是道道地地的臺南人，曾於國內外多次舉辦展覽，多年來致力於油畫創作，積極參與藝文團體擔任要職，成績斐然。藝術家陳文石出生於宜蘭，移居美國後長年旅居海外，藝術創作不輟，同時也致力於推動海外民主運動，曾獲僑務委員會獎章表揚，卓有貢獻。 藝術家蘇奕榮這次也特別以個人油畫作品「曙光」” — 蘇奕榮．陳文石藝壇雙傑 台南台江文化中心跨年展[影] (2023-12-18)

2021 (1 quotes)

  1. “、李美紅、郭文斌、王豐一、陳漢民、李賢群、林承芳、林麥玲、梁俊凱、葉俊麟、謝傳佐、徐洸玲、唐久麗、李豐源、洪月嬌、袁璐、徐和生、楊悅英、周清耀、呂芳哲、林基龍、陳文石、賴英慧、張晉作、賴慧娜、賴淑遠、吳東昇、王政煌、李德揚、楊茂生、湯梅英、蔡漢成、傅舟山、葉協豐、殷清隆、劉煥君、林淑卿、程冠穎、謝秀緞、張瑞菊、曾翔瑜、黃河芬” — 2021年南加州僑界支持台灣參與世界衛生大會(WHA)聯合聲明 (2021-05-17)

2020 (19 quotes)

  1. “2020/03/21 （中央社記者王承中台北21日電）從路邊賣國畫養家的青少年，到長年支持台灣民主運動的旅美畫家，陳文石在相隔28年之後，再次於台北舉辦個人作品展，感謝曾經收藏畫作的朋友們。 陳文石旅居洛杉磯地區已41年，長年支援台灣民主運動，以「燃點，陳文石77作品展」為主題的” — 看寶石激發創作靈感，陳文石相隔28年返台展畫 (2020-03-21)
  2. “者王承中台北21日電）從路邊賣國畫養家的青少年，到長年支持台灣民主運動的旅美畫家，陳文石在相隔28年之後，再次於台北舉辦個人作品展，感謝曾經收藏畫作的朋友們。 陳文石旅居洛杉磯地區已41年，長年支援台灣民主運動，以「燃點，陳文石77作品展」為主題的畫展今天下午在台北市福華飯店揭幕，行政院長蘇貞昌、外交部長吳釗燮等人都到場祝賀” — 看寶石激發創作靈感，陳文石相隔28年返台展畫 (2020-03-21)
  3. “民主運動的旅美畫家，陳文石在相隔28年之後，再次於台北舉辦個人作品展，感謝曾經收藏畫作的朋友們。 陳文石旅居洛杉磯地區已41年，長年支援台灣民主運動，以「燃點，陳文石77作品展」為主題的畫展今天下午在台北市福華飯店揭幕，行政院長蘇貞昌、外交部長吳釗燮等人都到場祝賀。 陳文石於1943年生於宜蘭，人生故事和他的畫作一樣精彩。他” — 看寶石激發創作靈感，陳文石相隔28年返台展畫 (2020-03-21)
  4. “洛杉磯地區已41年，長年支援台灣民主運動，以「燃點，陳文石77作品展」為主題的畫展今天下午在台北市福華飯店揭幕，行政院長蘇貞昌、外交部長吳釗燮等人都到場祝賀。 陳文石於1943年生於宜蘭，人生故事和他的畫作一樣精彩。他的父親是林務局的公務員，與妻子都喜歡音樂和藝術。陳文石說，小時家裡有一套世界美術全集之類的書籍，讓他看了後立” — 看寶石激發創作靈感，陳文石相隔28年返台展畫 (2020-03-21)
  5. “揭幕，行政院長蘇貞昌、外交部長吳釗燮等人都到場祝賀。 陳文石於1943年生於宜蘭，人生故事和他的畫作一樣精彩。他的父親是林務局的公務員，與妻子都喜歡音樂和藝術。陳文石說，小時家裡有一套世界美術全集之類的書籍，讓他看了後立志要當畫家。 不料父親早逝，為了幫忙養家活口，陳文石在宜蘭路邊賣自己畫的國畫作品，每張10元，相當暢銷，為” — 看寶石激發創作靈感，陳文石相隔28年返台展畫 (2020-03-21)
  6. “彩。他的父親是林務局的公務員，與妻子都喜歡音樂和藝術。陳文石說，小時家裡有一套世界美術全集之類的書籍，讓他看了後立志要當畫家。 不料父親早逝，為了幫忙養家活口，陳文石在宜蘭路邊賣自己畫的國畫作品，每張10元，相當暢銷，為他帶來可觀的收入。 他作畫由傳統的中國水墨畫、東洋膠彩畫開始，為實現畫家夢，退伍後進入復興美工就讀，197” — 看寶石激發創作靈感，陳文石相隔28年返台展畫 (2020-03-21)
  7. “計以及和富商邱永漢共同產銷組合式家具致富。 他以身為台灣第一位開室內設計課的大學教師（在當時的中國文化學院）和第一個生產組合式家具的業者為榮。 賺了一桶金之後，陳文石在1978年移居美國洛杉磯，為了保持生計，他當起油漆工，但畢竟富有生意頭腦，逐漸發展成油漆公司，手下員工多達十餘人，常接大型建築的生意。 陳文石說，最後讓他後半” — 看寶石激發創作靈感，陳文石相隔28年返台展畫 (2020-03-21)
  8. “賺了一桶金之後，陳文石在1978年移居美國洛杉磯，為了保持生計，他當起油漆工，但畢竟富有生意頭腦，逐漸發展成油漆公司，手下員工多達十餘人，常接大型建築的生意。 陳文石說，最後讓他後半輩子生活無虞的，是土地買賣和開發生意。除了土地買賣，他興建商場和4家汽車旅館，投資有方帶來的收入，讓他可以安心作畫，不必為了賣畫而煩惱。 吳釗燮” — 看寶石激發創作靈感，陳文石相隔28年返台展畫 (2020-03-21)
  9. “，是土地買賣和開發生意。除了土地買賣，他興建商場和4家汽車旅館，投資有方帶來的收入，讓他可以安心作畫，不必為了賣畫而煩惱。 吳釗燮指出，在台灣許多本土運動中都有陳文石的足跡。陳文石說，到了美國，他感受到沒有自由的政治環境，就不可能有創新，因此積極支持台灣民主自由運動，成為台灣民主化道路上在海外的幕後工作者。 曾任民主進步黨美” — 看寶石激發創作靈感，陳文石相隔28年返台展畫 (2020-03-21)
  10. “開發生意。除了土地買賣，他興建商場和4家汽車旅館，投資有方帶來的收入，讓他可以安心作畫，不必為了賣畫而煩惱。 吳釗燮指出，在台灣許多本土運動中都有陳文石的足跡。陳文石說，到了美國，他感受到沒有自由的政治環境，就不可能有創新，因此積極支持台灣民主自由運動，成為台灣民主化道路上在海外的幕後工作者。 曾任民主進步黨美西黨部主委的陳” — 看寶石激發創作靈感，陳文石相隔28年返台展畫 (2020-03-21)

2019 (1 quotes)

  1. “e 29, 2019 「知性. 品昧. 喜悅.台灣烏龍」 – 慶祝台灣烏龍茶銷美150 週年-茶大使許正龍主講 台灣鄉情與文化 June 27, 2019 畫家陳文石講台灣近代美術-「台灣．藝象」第三講@ 20190608 台灣鄉情與文化 June 24, 2019 綠島人權藝術季《拜訪流麻溝15號》布拉瑞揚舞團揭序幕 台灣” — 台灣鄉情與文化 (2019-07-16)

2018 (1 quotes)

  1. “,ITPC, 長青教室/from Ching-Hao Shaw November 18, 2017 台美人台加人 長青教室心得報告-近代西洋美術的欣賞 ◎講員 陳文石 2017-11-01 November 4, 2017 台美人台加人 2017 婦女癌症認知系列講座-沉默的殺手──卵巢癌 ◎黃邦雄 婦產科醫師/長青教室 2” — ‘Tag: 長青教室’ (2018-03-02)

2017 (2 quotes)

  1. “技術學院多媒體設計系助理教授。曾獲國際獎項無數， 他為果陀劇團作的舞台漫畫「吻我吧娜娜」是台灣第一本舞台漫畫。 新藝畫會的會員：李淑櫻、洪逸凡、劉 白、蔡蕙香、陳文石等也受邀參加這次台灣之美繪畫巡迴展，與台灣的畫家以藝切磋、交流。策展人蘇奐豪理事並表示，非常歡迎愛藝鄉親們撥忙前來觀賞畫作、聆聽演講，共襄藝術文化盛事。 林耀煌” — The Beauty of Taiwan-Heart of Asia Exhibition & Art Talk 台灣之美‧亞洲之心國際巡迴展 4/1~2, (2017-03-14)
  2. “SC)11月9日舉辦研習會 ◎TARSA November 4, 2017 admin 0 […] 台美人台加人 長青教室心得報告-近代西洋美術的欣賞 ◎講員 陳文石 2017-11-01 November 4, 2017 admin 0 […] 台美人台加人 2017 婦女癌症認知系列講座-沉默的殺手──卵巢癌 ◎黃邦雄” — 台美人台加人 | Taiwan Justice | 台灣公義網 (2017-11-09)

…and 18 more quotes

Source Notes and Confidence

Education

  • 師範大學 — 1974 — B.S. 美術

Employment

  • 文化大學 — 1976- — Teaching
  • 邱永漢關係企業求美公司 — 1976- — 總經理

From the record

  • 2018-09-26 — TAH Foundation 以「114. Stone Chen 陳文石」為獨立條目收錄本人，列於 TAH 故事語料庫（[[works/taiwaneseamericanhistory-org/114-stone-chen|TAH #114, 2018-09-26]]）。
  • 2018-07-03 — TAH Foundation 收錄「70. Collection of Mr. Stone Chen 陳文石先生的收藏」，記錄本人的藝術收藏（[[works/taiwaneseamericanhistory-org/collection-of-mr-stone-chen|TAH #70, 2018-07-03]]）。
  • 2016-10-25 — 本人於《美洲台灣日報》10/2016 發表專欄〈一頓飯 省下20億美元〉：憶述 1992 年間與江昭儀、侯貞雄等人促成台翔放棄以約 20 億美元收購麥克道格拉斯 40% 股權、轉往飛機保養維修深耕，並寄望海外台美人專業人士貢獻台灣（[[works/taiwaneseamericanhistory-org/ourjourneys261|TAH OurJourneys #261, 2016-10-25]]）。
  • 2016-05-20 — TAH Who’s Who 以「1002. Stone Chen 陳文石 / 2016/05」條目收錄本人（[[works/taiwaneseamericanhistory-org/whoswho1002|TAH Who’s Who #1002, 2016-05-20]]）。
  • 2015-06-12 — TAH Foundation 以「50. 陳文石 Stone Chen / 2015/05」條目收錄本人（[[works/taiwaneseamericanhistory-org/50-e9-99-b3-e6-96-87-e7-9f-b3-stone-chen201505|TAH #50, 2015-06-12]]）。
  • 2025-06-26 — 美洲台灣日報於天普市舉行高層人事交接，續任董事（徐新宏接任董事長、賴英慧接任社長、原社長李木通轉任董事）；報導稱其「年逾八十仍努力發聲」，為這家海外台灣人經營的媒體加油（美洲台灣日報，報導 2025-06-27）

Sources

TJ Citations

Articles from taiwanjustice.net mentioning 陳文石 (Chen Wenshi):

  1. 2020-11-25 — |台美人台加人

  2. 2024-02-21 — |台灣人文藝術

  3. 2021-05-17 — |2021年南加州僑界支持台灣參與世界衛生大會(WHA)聯合聲明

  4. 2021-05-17 — |2021年南加州僑界支持台灣參與世界衛生大會(WHA)聯合聲明

  5. 2020-03-21 — |看寶石激發創作靈感，陳文石相隔28年返台展畫

  6. 2023-12-18 — [[articles/taiwanjustice-net/2024/20240225151323_root_622221d578f3cb3e||蘇奕榮．陳文石藝壇雙傑 台南台江文化中心跨年展[影]]]

  7. 2017-03-14 — 1~2,

verified-saturation: 2026-10-16

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