Quality Art Appraisal by Dr. Wei Yang, an Independent Art Appraiser

CHINESE ART EXPERT WITNESS

Wei Yang has been serving as Chinese art expert witness since 2015. Dr. Yang believes that expert witnesses build on their training, skills and experience in Chinese art and art evaluation. In practice, complying with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and following the code of ethics for appraisers are just the beginning of an appraiser's journey. In order to perform effectively as a consulting and testifying expert witness, Dr. Yang has been sharpening her skills in legal communication, persuasion and argument via rigorous self-training for the goal of serving to the best of her abilities. For the purpose of providing clear, unbiased analysis, writing solid appraisal reports and giving testimony to judges, juries, attorneys, and their clients, Dr. Yang has read extensively to obtain certain levels of knowledge and skills required for legal professionals.

Dr. Yang serves as a Chinese art expert witness with advanced training and a set of unique skills unmatched in the field. She has dedicated her life to the perfection of her expertise and skills by continuing training and education. After earning B.A in art history (1997) and M.A. in Asian art (1998) degrees in from Smith College, Wei Yang received her Ph.D. in Chinese art and Tibetan art (2005) from Northwestern University. To be prepared for her new career as an art appraiser, Dr. Yang earned a certificate of Fine Art and Decorative Art Appraisal from Prett Institute in New York in 2008, a cerfiticate of Painting Mounting and Conservation from Shandong Mounting and Conservation Academy (Jinan, Shandong) in 2011. To advance her appraiser's rank, Dr. Yang joined American Society of Appraisers, earned two Accredited Senior Appraiser designations-Asian art (ASA, 2010-2025) and Appraisal Review and Management (ARM, 2017-2025) from American Society of Appraisers. Dr. Yang's research strength covers classical Chinese painting and calligraphy, ceramics, jade and Buddhist art. She has served as Chinese Art expert appraiser, review appraiser, consulting and testifying expert Witness for litigation since 2005.

Dr. Yang brings integrity, professional training, competence in multiple fields, and impartiality to her work.

CHINESE ART FOCUS
Ph.D. in Chinese Art & Tibetan Art

Wei Yang treasures professional honesty in providing art consultation and appraisal services. She belives that nobody could be a competent art expert on all forms of Asian art. With a Ph.D. in Chinese art and Tibetan art and a Master in Asian art, Dr. Yang limits her expert witness services for litigation to Chinese art, particularly classical Chinese painting and calligraphy prior to 1949. She has prepared appraisals of most forms of Chinese art, however, she neither consult nor appraises antique bronzes and metal works. So far, she has offered expert opinions on authenticity and valuation for authenticity dispute, insurance settlement and taxation litigation. From an appraisal reviewer's perspective, she has identified, documented and explained errors and omissions in appraisal reports she has reviewed, ranging from irrelevant scope of work to inadequate explanation of research, flawed methodology, insufficient data selection, problematic treatment of provenance, use of unqualified comparables and unreasonable value conclusions. Her strengths are based on her expertise in Chinese aesthetics and art criticism, painting technique, visual aesthetics, and market economics. Dr. Yang has served as Chinese art appraiser, consulting and testifying expert witness for litigations concerning authenticity, insurance damage settlements and taxation disputes.

RECENT EXPERIENCE
-Appraisal Expert, Consulting & Testifying Expert

Art Expert: Wei Yang, Ph.D. in Chinese Art, has reviewed case files and other materials, identified issues and proposed solutions.

Appraisal Expert & Review Appraiser: Wei Yang has prepared appraisals of Asian art for insurance, capital gains, estate and income taxation, and written appraisal review reports on the credibility and USPAP-compliance of appraisals.

Consulting Expert: Wei Yang has assisted attorneys who represent auction houses with opinion on authenticity and value conclusion. She reviewed case materials, prepared preliminary reviews and research reports, identified weaknesses in cases, analyzed opposing expert’s expertise, and assessed adequacy of appraisal methodology, accuracy of data, completeness of scope of work and reasonableness of value conclusion in light of USPAP.

Testifying Expert: Wei Yang has prepared appraisal reports, rebuttal reports, given depositions and offered testimony in court since 2015.

QUALIFICATIONS
-Ph.D. in Chinese Art, Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) in Asian Art (2010-2025) & Appraisal Review and Management (ARM, 2017-1025).

Expert in Chinese art: Wei Yang holds a B.A. (1997) in art history and M.A. degree (1998) in Asian art from Smith College (Northampton, MA) and a Ph.D. (2005) in Chinese art and Tibetan art (2005) from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). Dr. Yang doctoral training focused on Chinese painting and calligraphy from the 10th to 15th centuries. She is a native Chinese with special training in classical Chinese scripts used in classical Chinese painting, calligraphy and seal carving. She reads Japanese and some Tibetan. She has conducted extensive field trips in Asia, conducted academic level of research on Chinese art and Asian art in museums and field sites in China, Tibet, Korea, Mongolia, southeast Asia, central Asia, Europe, and North America.

Certifications : Wei Yang earned a certificate of Fine Art and Decorative Arts Appraisal from Pratt Institute (NY) in 2008 and a certificate in Chinese Painting Mounting and Restoration from the Mounting and Restoration Academy (Jinan, Shandong) in 2011.

Two Art Appraisal Designations : Dr. Yang earned two Accredited Senior Appraiser designations- Asian Art (ASA, 2010-2025) and Appraisal Review and Management (ARM, 2017-2025) from American Society of Appraisers. Starting in September 2025, however, Dr. Yang has decided to scale down her appraisal practice to free more time for finishing her books on Chinese ceramics and jade. However, she will stay engaged as usual but only accepts appraisal and appraisal review assignments that are interesting and challenging. Her passion for Asian art and her dedication to the excellence of appraisal services remain intact. Dr. Yang will continue to serve her clients to the best of her abilities.

AUTHOR & EDUCATOR
-Writings on Chinese Art Connoisseurship and Valuation

Wei Yang published an English reference book on the connoisseurship and Appraisal of Chinese art, Wei Yang’s Guide to Chinese Painting and Calligraphy , 2 volumes (Nankai University Press, 2022), "Five Mistakes in Appraising Premodern Chinese Paintings ," ARM E-Journal 5, no. 1 (2021): 58:62, a memoir in Chinese, Desert Bloom (Shazaohua de gushi) (Beijing Publishing House, 2020). She is now completing two further reference books, Wei Yang’s Guide to Chinese Ceramics and Wei Yang’s Guide to Chinese Jade. Before earning her degrees in the graduate schools, she worked for 15 years in the education division of the Dunhuang Academy based at the Mogao Caves (Gansu, China), the largest repository of Buddhist art in the world. She served as Chinese art bibliographer at the Marquand Library of Art and Archaeology at Princeton University and taught in universities and lectured to professional societies worldwide.