Zhao Gang

Zhao Gang's artistic approach is distinguished by its bold and nearly exaggerated narrative techniques and brushwork.  

Biography of Zhao Gang

Zhao Gang was born in 1961 in Beijing, China. He studied at the Maastricht Institute of Arts in Maastricht, The Netherlands, in 1983.

From 1984 to 1987, he attended Vassar College in New York. Later, he studied at Bard College in New York, receiving an MFA in 1999. 

Zhao Gang made his artistic debut at the young age of 18 as a member of the Stars Group, one of the pioneering avant-garde artist collectives that heralded the advent of contemporary art in China.

His recent solo exhibitions include "Zhao Gang’s Solo Exhibition: Platform" at Jia Art in Wuhan (2023), "Holiday" at JINGHOPE Art Center in Sanya (2022), "Nothing is Happening" at Long Museum Chong Qing in Chongqing (2022), "Domestic Anxiety" at Long Museum West Bund in Shanghai (2021), and many more.

Zhao Gang's artworks have also been featured in group exhibitions, including "Upstairs Cities" at the ASE Foundation in Shanghai (2022), "Jing Zhe" at Surplus Space in Wuhan (2021), "Turning Point - 40 years of Chinese Contemporary Art" at ong Museum West Bund in Shanghai (2018), among others. 

Currently, the artist lives between New York and Beijing.

 Zhao Gang's Arty Style

Zhao Gang explores the fluid nature of individual identities, the collision of cultures, and the complex interweaving of fragmented historical events in his art. Drawing from a rich and nuanced cultural background, he merges classical and contemporary, Western and Chinese influences to create works that gracefully unravel patterns and concepts, skillfully dissecting visual narratives.

Zhao Gang's artistic style is marked by bold and sometimes exaggerated narrative techniques and brushwork, serving as both a continual assertion of his own presence and a defiant stance against prevailing trends of artistic refinement. His artworks exalt the unrestrained freedom and authenticity inherent in painting.

Having studied and lived abroad since 1983, Zhao Gang's diverse style reflects distinct international characteristics. Upon his return to Beijing around 2006, he shifted his focus to exploring the intricate interplay between his unique cross-cultural experiences and the tapestry of Chinese history.