Zao Wou-Ki

Zao Wou-Ki (1921–2013) was a Chinese-French abstract artist renowned for blending Eastern and Western artistic traditions. Born in Beijing, he studied traditional Chinese and Western painting techniques at the School of Fine Arts in Hangzhou, where he was influenced by European modernists like Cézanne, Matisse and Picasso. In 1948, Zao moved to Paris, immersing himself in the École de Paris and Lyrical Abstraction movements. His early works retained figurative elements. By the 1950s, influenced by Paul Klee and Chinese calligraphy, Zao adopted a fully abstract style characterized by gestural brushstrokes, vivid colors and dynamic compositions.

 

Zao’s work evolved through stages, reflecting personal and historical events. In the 1960s, his paintings became bolder and more gestural, inspired by Abstract Expressionism and his connections with New York artists like Barnett Newman. During the 1970s, his use of Chinese ink techniques reemerged, blending with modern abstraction. His works from the 1990s onward emphasized saturated hues, layered textures and a balance of image and space.

 

Zao also explored printmaking, stage design and book illustration, collaborating with poets and creating engravings. His works are held in major museum collections, including the Guggenheim, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Centre Pompidou. Zao’s art has become increasingly sought after, reflecting his unique synthesis of Chinese sensibility and Western abstraction. Elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in France, he remains a pivotal figure in 20th-century art history.