Xiao Mai Kong was born and raised in Shanghai and studied art and design in China and Japan. Her father, Bai Ji Kong, is an internationally renowned painter, with works in collections and museums worldwide. Mai learned painting from her father since the age of five and absorbed from him a philosophy of life and painting that focuses on the present moment, and the deep harmony between humanity and nature. That sense of harmony and beauty is what compels Mai to paint every day, focusing on landscape and still life. 

Kong currently lives in Westport Connecticut with her family. She had a solo exhibition at Greenwich, CT; She was one of the nine artists chosen for the Westport Art Center.

Xiao Mai was also selected as one of the top 50 Chinese artists abroad and featured in the annual exhibition at the Shanghai Library