Adrian Cheng '02

 

Harvard College ’02 (Adams House)

AB, East Asian Studies

 

Adrian Cheng’s decision to concentrate in EAS was driven by a keen interest in exploring the world’s different forms of cultural, social, and artistic expressions and activities, particularly in East Asian countries such as South Korea, Japan and China. The concentration helped him understand and navigate China’s growing influence in world affairs, and also equipped him with the necessary historical knowledge to appreciate the cultural and economic differences among cities in China.

 

After graduating from Harvard, Adrian joined his family business conglomerate and was instrumental in piloting a new vision for the company in addition to pioneering new initiatives. His passion for cultural studies and his undergraduate experience in cultural exchange inspired him to launch K11 Art Foundation, a registered not-for-profit organization that serves as an incubator for young emerging artists from Greater China. The Foundation also provides art education to the public through artist seminars, forums, and an art village.

 

Inspired by his EAS training and methodology, Adrian successfully created a new hybrid model that combines art and commerce in the form of an unprecedented museum retail concept affiliated with his foundation. K11 builds innovative, high-end lifestyle art malls, offices, and serviced apartments across Greater China, setting cultural and lifestyle trends for local residents to enjoy through an integrated infrastructure. After much effort and investment in the project, the flagship K11 Art Malls were officially launched in Hong Kong and Shanghai in 2009 and 2013, 7 and 11 years, respectively, after Adrian graduated Harvard. The K11 Multi-Cultural Living District in Wuhan and K11 ECO HOME in Beijing opened in 2010. The art village in Wuhan opened the following year. Serving as executive vice-chairman and general manager of New World Development since 2017, he continues to develop the K11 brand while simultaneously bringing innovation to development in Hong Kong. He sees his current ongoing project, K11 Musea (in development starting in 2018), as “a place for millennials to learn, acquire knowledge and be immersed in different cultures.” A 2020 Forbes article details many of Adrian’s past achievements and future aspirations for his brand and company.

 

Reflecting back on the past few decades, Adrian believes that concentrating in EAS at Harvard was one of the wisest and most rewarding decisions he has made in his life thus far.