In his early years, Mao Xinguo worked in folk art, traditional Chinese painting, and calligraphy. From the 1980s onwards, he taught himself the history of Western modern art as well as Chinese classical art, immersing himself in both Chinese traditional painting and Western contemporary art. He became particularly captivated by the study and creation of portrait painting. Mao Xingguo believes that the portrayal of human figures should simply and directly convey the spiritual reality of individuals within their life circumstances, thereby giving them philosophical significance and qualities.

For nearly two decades, Mao Xingguo has continued to explore and create with the language of painting. He aims to express subtle and profound aesthetic concepts through straightforward, unpretentious techniques and colours, with the intention of revealing the depth of life and unique sensibility. His landscape paintings, which began during this period, are characterised by sombre tones and concentrated meanings, reflecting a sense of melancholy and solitude. This delicate, compassionate sentiment is not a dramatic invention on the part of the artist, but a natural expression of his inherent nature.

In recent years, Mao Xingguo has focused on the exploration of ink painting, drawing inspiration from both Eastern and Western artistic traditions. He is actively seeking new avenues for working with ink, and has established his own distinctive artistic language known as "Ink Form"

Mao Xingguo’s artwork have been regularly featured in galleries and museums across China. Recent exhibitions include Gallery Where, Cosmic Mountain, Lang Room, and Lens Space in Beijing. He has participated in major group exhibitions at the Phoenix Art Centre, Upper Garden Art Museum in Beijing, and the Nanjing International Exhibition Centre.