He was an important representative of the first generation of oil painters in China and was known for blending Western and Chinese art styles.
In 1957 he was among the three artists chosen by the government to exhibit at the Berlin Arts Institute in East Germany.
[3] Although Guan began his career as an oil painter, he later focussed on traditional Chinese ink wash painting featuring characters from Peking operas.
[2] His representative works include Stealing the Royal Horse (盗御马) and Farewell to my Concubine (霸王别姬), both scenes from traditional Peking operas.
[2] Guan Liang is one of the seven artists featured in the Exhibition for Noted Painters at the China Art Museum in Shanghai.