ARTIST STATEMENT:
The foundation of my art practice is defined by the topic of individuality versus unity, stemming from my personal study of Buddhism, Taoism and Existentialist philosophy. Bigotry is a prevalent challenge in life historically and throughout the world today, with deep roots in issues of racism, sexism and nationalism. In essence, people are afraid of difference in others. My personal experience and extensive, direct research with the pyschologoy of different communities and institutions is the inspiration for compositions that seek to open up the viewers appreciation of one another, offering a universal outlook of life. Specifically I choose to remix culture as a way to connect in a communal way. One’s very personal feelings of hopeless- ness is really a struggle that all can relate to. By placing their struggle into the context of a universal visual narrative, I emphasize the desire and ability to see hope from hopelessness.
My overiding intention through remixing culture is to challenge ideas of the truly independent self by shedding implied physical boundaries. In practice, my compositions speak to ideas of West vs. East, high art versus commercial art, reality against illusion, physical against the virtual, self versus mask or mess. In each instance, individual cultural elements are united as the whole of existence.
BIOGRAPHY:
Born in 1984 in Kaifeng, China, Xi Zhang has been immersed in the practice of art throughout his entire life. Upon completion of his studies in painting at China's Beijing Institute of Art and Design, he moved to the United States to further his artistic training at Denver, Colorado's Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from RMCAD in 2008, and that same year was recognized by then Denver Post art critic Kyle MacMillan as the "Emerging Artist of the Year" for his "well developed, surprisingly mature vision." Zhang continued from there with his masters studies in painting at the University of Colorado, Boulder, receiving his MFA from the institution in 2011. That same year he was named one of the "12 Best Colorado Artists Under 35" as well as one of seven "Pathfinders" in the arts also by MacMillan in the Denver Post. Zhang has presented his work in a number of notable solo exhibitions throughout Colorado, most recently Xi Zhang: 21st Century DNA at the McNichols Civic Center Building, presented in conjunction with the City of Denver in 2013 and Bone at Plus Gallery, Denver in 2014. In 2011 he was commissioned by CNN for their "Ripple" online international art project in commemoration of the ten year anniversary of 9/11, with his painting receiving more than four million hits from the news channels website. Later that year Zhang delivered a Logan Lecture at the Denver Art Museum as part of the presti- gious series' fall focus on International Contemporary Chinese Artists. In 2012 Zhang received his United States citizenship as an "Artist of extraordinary ability," paving his way forward towards a career as a US-based artist. Immediately following that honor he was selected by the Denver Biennial of the Americas to represent the United States at the URRA artist residency program in Buenos Aires. In 2016 Zhang received the Gold Medal top prize for painting for Art Forward contest #5 and has been nominated for the John Moores Painting Prize with related exhibition at the Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai, as well as the Premio Combat Prize, with related exhibition in Livorno, Italy. His most recent major solo exhibitions “Dreamdust Milkshake” and “EXIT Childtown” were presented at Park City’s Kimball Arts Center (2020) and UCCS’ Gallery of Contemporary Art in Colorado Springs, CO (2023) respectively. Zhang’s work has been acquired by some of the most prominent contemporary collectors and curators in the state of Colo- rado and throughout the United States. Zhang is represented by Plus Gallery in Denver, CO and Marc Straus in New York City, NY.