His journey to the forefront of the local arts scene started 20 years ago, when Chang Ta-chien, one of the most famous traditional Chinese painters, held an art exhibition Taipei. Li Chi-mao, then an unknown, but talented painter, was among the admiring spectators. He was so fascinated with Chang's paintings that he stayed too late at the exhibition and missed the last bus.
二十多年後，這個傻小子也在臺北開畫展了，會場中冠蓋雲集，許多要人都來道賀，張大千也來了，他在每一幅畫前細細瀏覽，然後，握著這老小子的手說：「奇茂，硬是要得！」