Xiang Zhang
Observing life to capture it’s essences was the foremost lesson Xiang learned from his art professors. Evidence of these ideas can be found in the treatment of his early landscapes and images from life. During his formative years, Xiang improved his grasp of both figure and form by making thousands of impromptu sketches. These studies have enabled him to develop a great talent for portraying strikingly original figures, particularly when combined with his long study of Western traditional painting techniques.
Xiang graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing and Tulane University in New Orleans with his B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees, respectively. Over the past twenty years, Xiang’s paintings have appeared in many group art exhibitions as well as one-man shows. He is a Signature Member of Oil Painters of America and has won numerous awards including the Founders Award from The Artist’s of the New Century 2002, Bennington, Vermont.
His past endeavors are indicative of his diverse talents, including novel illustrations, oil portraits, murals, creating Mardi Gras floats, set designs for both theatre and opera, and also teaching painting and Chinese European Art History at Beijing Broadcasting Institute. “It’s like a new discovery whenever I start a painting. I always try to make each of the paintings have it’s own personality and soul by employing a variety of techniques.”