• Chinese, b. 1962 Lives and works in Beijing, China Zhan Wang is an important representative figure of Chinese contemporary art...

    Chinese, b. 1962

    Lives and works in Beijing, China 

     

    Zhan Wang is an important representative figure of Chinese contemporary art in the international art scene, working in sculpture, photography, and multimedia installations. 
     
    His series of stainless steel Artificial Rocks, begun in 1995, has garnered international acclaim and has been collected by institutions around the world. These works are based on an object symbolic of China’s past, the scholar’s rock, which was traditionally collected by the literati and placed in courtyards or other sites of private contemplation, such as studies. Zhan Wang’s stainless steel reinterpretations of this form draw attention to China’s shifting value systems and the reconstruction of its urban centers. These highly reflective works not only utilize the ubiquitous building material of his native country, but also reflect in a mirror-like fashion the rapid urbanization of modern-day China and its ongoing realignment with the natural world. These works are made through a painstaking handcrafted process for which the artist received a patent in 2002. 
     
    A prominent and well-respected figure in his native China and beyond, Zhan Wang’s work has been widely exhibited at institutions internationally, including the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA; Milwaukee Art Museum, WI; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA; Albright-Knox Gallery, Buffalo, NY; Kunstmuseum, Berlin, Germany; Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan; Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan; and Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Selected collections that have acquired his work include the British Museum, London, U.K.; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY; the de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA; and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA. His works have been featured in many important international biennials and triennials including Venice, Shanghai, Singapore and Guangzhou. Zhan Wang’s work is included in The Allure of Matter, a major group exhibition that will travel to the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, CA; Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, IL; Seattle Art Museum, WA; and the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA.
     
    Artist CV (PDF)
  • Works
    • Zhan Wang Artificial Rock #127 Stainless steel 157 x 90 x 62 inches
      Zhan Wang
      Artificial Rock #127
      Stainless steel
      157 x 90 x 62 inches
      Inquire
    • Zhan Wang Artificial Rock No. 154, 2013 45 x 18 x 14 inches Base: 9 x 17 x 17 inches
      Zhan Wang
      Artificial Rock No. 154, 2013
      45 x 18 x 14 inches
      Base: 9 x 17 x 17 inches
      Inquire
    • Zhan Wang Artificial Rock #148, 2007 Stainless steel, wood With base: 34 x 32 x 20 inches
      Zhan Wang
      Artificial Rock #148, 2007
      Stainless steel, wood
      With base: 34 x 32 x 20 inches
      Inquire
    • Zhan Wang Flowers in the Mirror, Beijing Series #6, 2004 C-print 31.75 x 39.25 inches, framed
      Zhan Wang
      Flowers in the Mirror, Beijing Series #6, 2004
      C-print
      31.75 x 39.25 inches, framed
      Inquire
    • Zhan Wang Flowers in the Mirror, Beijing Series #10, 2004 C-print 31.75 x 39.25 inches, framed
      Zhan Wang
      Flowers in the Mirror, Beijing Series #10, 2004
      C-print
      31.75 x 39.25 inches, framed
      Inquire
  • Exhibitions
  • Press

  • Amir Ali, “"Globally significant" gleaming sculpture returns to Vancouver,” Daily Hive, February 28, 2023

    S. Nicole Lane, “‘The Allure of Mater’ pushes boundaries” Chicago Reader, February 18, 2020

    Susanna Ferrell, “The Allure of Matter: Spotlight on Zhan Wang” Un Framed, September 3, 2019

    Claire Wrathall, “Culture and chardonnay: exploring California's remarkable art wineries,” The Telegraph, October 18, 2018

    Lisa Kocay, “Inside The Donum Estate: A Vineyard Merging Art And Wine” Forbes, June 6, 2018

    Lani Asher, “Linda Conner & Zhan Wang: Speak to the Stones, and the Stars Answer” Delicious line, April 16, 2018

    Aimee Dawson, "Love it or loathe it, you can't ignore it: Hong Kong's first sculpture park," The Art Newspaper, March 27, 2018

    Max Blue, "Review: Linda Connor and Zhan Wang," Squarecylinder.com, March 23, 2018

    Charles Desmarais, “Must-see Bay Area photography exhibitions in March,” San Francisco Chronicle, March 8, 2018

    "View These Amazing Works By Chinese Artist Zhan Wang,” Singapore Tatler, June 20, 2017

    “Long Museum is set to host new, ‘virtual’ works by Zhan Wang,” Malay Mail, June 18, 2017

    Lesa Griffith, “Honolulu Biennial Art Festival Rocks Out at Honolulu Museum of Art,” Honolulu Magazine, March 10, 2017

    Zosia Gamgee, “Blossom Pavilion in Shanghai Features Steel “Rocks” and a Rooftop Waterbed,” Dezeen Magazine, July 16, 2016

    Sue Wang, "Zhan Wang's Newest Solo Exhibition 'Nothing for the Time Being' to be Presented in Shanghai," Cafa Art Info, October 16, 2015

    S.A. Hawkins, "A Shining Testament," Inland Empire Weekly, June 20, 2013

    Adeline Chia, "Yayoi Kusama, Zhan Wang Sell in Art Basel in HK," Blouin Artinfo, May 23, 2013

    Liu Libin, "Several States of Zhan Wang's Creation: Sonorous, Zeroing, Confronting and Moderate (Part VI)," Cafa Art Info, June 25, 2012

    Liu Libin, "Several States of Zhan Wang's Creation: Sonorous, Zeroing, Confronting and Moderate (Part IV and V)," Cafa Art Info, May 21, 2012

    Marilyn Goh, "Zhan Wang: Universe," Daily Serving, April 18, 2012

    Liu Libin, "Several States of Zhan Wang's Creation: Sonorous, Zeroing, Confronting and Moderate (Part II and III)," Cafa Art Info, April 6, 2012

    Berwin Song, "Zhan Wang: Universe," Time Out Singapore, March 29, 2012

    Blake Gopnik, "Scholarly Baubles: The Daily Pic: At the Armory Show, Zhan Wang Takes Classic Scholars' Rocks and Gives Them Market Sparkle," The Daily Beast, March 9, 2012

    Sheila Melvin, "Through an Explosion, a Chinese Artist's Road to Discovery," The New York Times,  January 31, 2012

    Liu Libin, "Several States of Zhan Wang's Creation: Sonorous, Zeroing, Confronting and Moderate (Part I)," Cafa Art Info, November 8, 2011