Zhang He
“In my work I seek to capture fleeting moments of beauty throughout various forms, inspired by nature, the changing seasons, human relationships, and all living beings (from animals to plants). These transient moments to me convey a sense of timelessness and universal truth shared by all, through our desire to cling onto and remember the present.
With each composition I am fueled by the pursuit of the unknown and the unexpected; by avoiding familiar patterns, I aim to challenge my way of thinking through each work in order to arrive at something new, refreshing, surprising, and spectacular all at the same time. My work embodies this process as a philosophy of life, constantly in search of freedom through the colors, brushstrokes, textures, and compositional harmony, while simultaneously press upon the viewer an emotional depth.
Physicality, spontaneity and expressiveness are integral to my process and as such propel the essence of each composition. Perhaps for this reason or rather unconsciously so, I always paint with the canvas flat on the floor. Despite working with abstraction, each composition remains very figurative and representational to my eyes. As for my technique, my medium of choice over the last twenty years has predominantly been oil painting, due to its inherent materiality and richness. This centuries-old medium represents for me the potential for reinvention, in the same way that I seek to bring about an element of renewal to the visual language of abstraction by engaging with the physical and sculptural quality of painting.”
Every artist has their artistic inspirations rooted in the Masters. For Zhang, the Automoatistes and Abstract Expressionists are close to his beginnings. Other inspirations include Helen Frakenthaler, Chaim Soutine, and Egon Schiele.
Recent Artwork
Video Interviews
Artist Information
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Through a dynamic language of abstraction, Zhang’s oil paintings convey a visceral engagement with the surrounding natural environment while evoking the depth of human emotions. With a calligraphic execution, his bold and gestural brushstrokes demonstrate a unique physicality and spontaneity, which resonate with early influences of Abstract Expressionism and the Automatistes Movement. The luscious colors and rich textures dictate each composition by accentuating its inherent physicality, and in doing so, add a sculptural quality to the painting.
Zhang He (b. 1963, Shenyang, China) has been part of several international exhibitions in the last two decades, including the Florence Biennale (Italy), the National Gallery of Thailand (Thailand), Art Toronto, Art Palm Beach and Art Bejing. Zhang has been featured in numerous publications including: Vie des Arts, Canadian Art, and Parcours. First arriving in Vancouver in 1997, Zhang currently lives and works in Montreal.
Zhang He
Residence: Montreal, Quebec
Born: 1963, Shenyang, China
Selected Solo and Group Exhibitions
2023 In Rhapsody, Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2022 New Arrivals, Momentum Gallery, Nice, France
2022 In It Together, Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2022 25th Anniversary Group Exhibition, Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2020 Galerie Z Art Space, Pictura, Montreal, QC
2020 Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal, QC
2019 Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2016 Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2015 Galerie Z Art Space, Pictura, Montreal, QC
2011 Gallery DeNovo, Ketchum, ID
2011 International Biennale Artists Show, LuminArte Gallery, Dallas, TX
2011 Chinese Artist Contemporary Arts Exhibition, Thailand National Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
2011 International Art Meeting Collective Art Show, Florence, Italy
2010 International Biennale Artist, Miami, FL
2010 Nina Torres Fine Art Gallery, Miami, FL
2010 Il Palaclo Gipsoteca Libero Museum Andreottl, Pescla, Italy
2010 John Scotti Jaguar-Land Rover: New Model Exhibition, Montreal, QC
2009 Artbank Gallery, Beijing, China
2008 Luxun Art Institute, Shenyang, China
2008 Galerie d’Este, Montreal, QC
2008 Sunshine Art Museum, Beijing, China
2008 Art Westmount, Montreal, QC
2008 Shanghai High Noon Art & Culture Centre, Shanghai, China
2007 Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2007 Galerie Galerie Pangee, Montreal, QC
2007 Galerie d’Este, Montreal, QC
2006 Elliott Louis Gallery Canadian Fine Art, Vancouver, BC
2003 HAN Art, Montreal, QC
2002 Gallery DeNovo, Ketchum, ID
Selected Public and Private Collections
Tiffany & Co.
LVMH Group
Peter Marino
JSF Capital
Proment Corporation, Montreal, QC
Swatow Group, Montreal, QC
Fraser Milner Casgrain
La Coop Federee
IACO International Aviation Corp, Montreal, QC
Pfiffner Management, Montreal, QC & Zurich, CH
Lise Watier Interantional, Montreal, QC & Paris, FR
Monit International, Montreal, QC
Hot & Spicy Inc., Canada & China
L’EQUIPE Uomo Montreal, QC
Ta Yu Association
Bertrand Deslauriers, Bureau des Avocats
Association du Nouveau Monde, Hong Kong
Studio Verstile Itee Inc. Montreal, QC
Graphic Design Studio Paul Tom Inc. Montreal, QC
Howard Szalavetz Properties, Montreal, QC
Comark Securities Inc., Toronto
Elements, Toronto, ON
HYI Architecte, Montreal, QC
International Biennales and Fairs
Florence Biennale, Italy
Art Toronto, Canada
Art Palm Beach, USA
Art Beijing, China
National Gallery of Thailand
Harmony of Movement and Thought – Haute Magazine – Jan, 2023
Louis Vuitton Acquisition at Dubai Mall – Vogue Arabia – Sept, 2020
1070 Homer Street,
Vancouver, BC, V6B 2W9, Canada
T. 604.737.3969
E. info@kostuikgallery.com