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.

Video Interviews

Artist Information

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