top of page
IMAGES
BIOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHY

zao wou ki.jpg

Chinese painter and engraver born in February 1921 in Beijing and died in April 2013 in Switzerland. 

He is attached to lyrical abstraction although his work includes realistic paintings.

Zao Wou-Ki is recognized as a figure in art.

EXHIBITIONS

EXHIBITIONS

2024

Mirrors of the Portrait, West Bund Museum, Shangaï, China

2016

- Zao Wou-Ki collector, Hospice Saint-Roch Museum, Issoudun, France

- No Limits. Zao Wou-Ki, Asia Society Museum, New York (NY); then Colby College Museum, Waterville (ME), USA.

- By the ocean on the infinite horizon, the wind of spring brings me home - Exhibition of prints by Zao Wou-Ki, Nantong Museum, Nantong, China. 

2015

- Zao Wou-Ki, Pierre Gianadda Foundation, Martigny, Switzerland

- Zao Wou-Ki. Prints. Recent Paintings, Cultural Center of China, Paris, France

- Zao Wou-Ki. Light and breath, Pully Art Museum, Switzerland

2013

- Zao Wou-Ki (1920-2013). Retrospettiva, Casa Rusca, Pinacoteca Comunale, Locarno, Switzerland

2012

- Zao Wou-Ki. The spring of the brush, Museum of Fine Arts, Rouen, France

- Zao Wou-Ki. Beyond, FEAST Project, Hong Kong

2011

- Zao Wou-Ki. Paintings : 1950s, De Sarthe Fine Art, Hong Kong

2010

- Presentation of the triptych Tribute to Claude Monet by Zao Wou-Ki (1991), France Pavilion, Universal Exhibition, Shanghai, China

- Zao Wou-Ki, Arpad Szenes Foundation, Vieira da Silva, Lisbon, Portugal

2009

- Zao Wou-Ki. Ceramics and works on paper, Marlborough Gallery, Monte-Carlo, Monaco

- Celebrating Zao Wou-Ki, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong, China

- Zao Wou-KiBetween heaven and earth. Watercolors and Chinese inks, Folon Foundation, La Hulpe, Belgium

2008

- Zao Wou-Ki. Prints and illustrated books, National Library of France, Paris, France

- Zao Wou-Ki. Ink, water, air, color. Chinese inks and watercolors – 1954-2007, Hospice Saint-Roch Museum, Issoudun, France

- Zao Wou-Ki. Paper + China, Marlborough Gallery, New York, USA

- Zao Wou-Ki. Engravings and illustrated books, Contemporary Wing, Suzhou Museum, Suzhou, China

- Zao Wou-Ki. Tribute to Riopelle and recent paintings, National Museum of Fine Arts of Quebec, Quebec, Canada

2007

- Zao Wou-Ki. Paintings, works on paper, ceramics. 1947-2007, Museum-Château, Nemours, France.

2006

- Zao Wou-Ki. Black & White Dream, New Suzhou Museum, Suzhou, China

-Chine Occident or the adventure of the sign, Galerie Berthet-Aittouarès, Paris, France

2005

- Zao Wou-Ki. Inner landscapes. 1947-2004, Benedictine Palace, Fécamp, France 

- Zao Wou-Ki. Paintings and Indian inks. 1948-2005, Espace Bellevue, Biarritz (France)

2004

- Zao Wou-Ki. The quest for silence. Paintings, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Dunkirk, France 

- Zao Wou-Ki – Tributes, Fabre Museum, Montpellier, France 

Zao Wou-Ki, Prints, Collections of the National Library of France, Museum of Millau, Hotel Pégayrolles, Millau, France

- Zao Wou-Ki, Bridgestone Museum of Art, Ishibashi Foundation, Tokyo, Japan

2003

- Zao Wou-Ki, Taidehalli, Helsinki, Finland

- Zao Wou-Ki. Recent works, Marlborough Gallery, New York, USA

- Zao Wou-Ki, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong, China

- Zao Wou-Ki. Course. Works from 1950 to 2000, Vanuxem Gallery, Paris, France

- Zao Wou-Ki. Recent works, Marlborough Gallery of New York, FIAC 2003, Paris, France

- Zao Wou-Ki, National Gallery of Jeu de Paume, Paris, France

2002

- Sign(s), Kamel Mennour Gallery, Paris, France

- Zao Wou-Ki. Dream of nature, oils and Indian inks of the last twenty years, Château de Chenonceau, France

2001

- Zao Wou-Ki, IVAM - Valencià Institute of Modern Art, Centro Julio Gonzalez, Valencia, Spain. Curator: Emmanuel Guigon. Subsequently presented at the Museum of Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium

- Zao Wou-Ki, Jeane Bastien Gallery, Brussels, Belgium

2000

- Zao Wou-Ki, Fuji Television Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

- Zao Wou-Ki. Paintings, Inks, Prints 1996-2000, Lungmen Art Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan

- Zao Wou-Ki. Inks 2000, Lin Keng Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan

- Zao Wou-Ki. Paintings 1996-2000, Thessa Herold Gallery, FIAC 2000, Paris, France

- Zao Wou-Ki. Recent inks, Marwan Hoss Gallery, Paris, France

- Zao Wou-Ki, contemporary section of the exhibition China, the glory of the emperors, Petit-Palais, Museum of Fine Arts of the City of Paris, France. 

1999

- Zao Wou-Ki. A Retrospective of work from 1948 to 1999, Lin Keng Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan

- Zao Wou-Ki. The last twenty years of painting, Center for Plastic Arts, Royan, France

- Zao Wou-Ki. Inks, 1953-1999, Salle des Ecritures, Figeac, France. 

Zao Wou-Ki. 60 years of paintings. 1935-1998, Guandong Palace of Fine Arts in Guangzhou, Shanghai Museum and Palace of Fine Arts in Beijing, China. Retrospective organized by the AFAA and the Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture of China, thanks to the sponsorship of L'Oréal.

1998

- Zao Wou-Ki. Tribute in the Museums of the City of Angers: Retrospective of the work painted at the Museum of Fine Arts, Indian inks from 1979 to 1995 at the Salle Chemellier, Engravings and artist's books at the Pincé museum, France

- Zao Wou-Ki, paintings and Indian inks, Thessa Herold Gallery, Madrid, Spain

1997

- Zao Wou-Ki. recent paintings, Thessa Herold Gallery, Paris, France

- Zao Wou-Ki, Lin & Keng Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan

- Zao Wou-Ki. Indian inks 1982-1996Tribute to Pierre Matisse, Jan Krugier Gallery, Ditesheim & Cie, Geneva, Switzerland

1996

- A retrospective of Zao Wou-Ki, Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Retrospective organized by the AFAA. 

- Infinite Image and Space. A retrospective of Zao Wou-Ki, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Revival of the Kaohsiung retrospective

- Zao Wou-Ki, Chinese inks 1982-1996 - A Tribute to Pierre Matisse, Jan Krugier Gallery, New York, United States

- Zao Wou-Ki, Jeane Bastien Gallery, Brussels, Belgium

1995

- Zao Wou-Ki, Retrospectiva, Centro de exposiciones y congresos, la Iber-Caja de Ahorros, Zaragoza, Spain

- Zao Wou-Ki. Paintings from 1962 to 1993, Maison de la Culture, Nevers, France

- Zao Wou-Ki, Ishibashi Museum of Art, Kurume, Japan

1994

- Zao Wou-Ki, Cuarenta Años de Pintura (1954-1994), Fundación Cultural Televisa, Centro Cultural Arte Contemporaneo, Mexico City, Mexico. 

1993

- Zao Wou-Ki Recent Paintings, Sapone Gallery, Nice, France

Zao Wou-Ki Retrospective, Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan 

- Zao Wou-Ki. Recent works, Alisan Fine Arts Ltd, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

1992

- Zao Wou-Ki. Retrospective: paintings 1955-1992, Noroit-Arras Cultural Center, Arras, France

- Zao Wou-Ki. Oleos-Aguadas, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal. Retrospective organized by the AFAA

- Zao Wou-Ki. Recent inks, Marwan Hoss Gallery, Paris, France.

- Zao Wou-Ki, international festival of Echternach, Luxembourg. Exhibitions organized by the AFAA: Paintings at Vianden Castle, Inks at the National Museum of Art and History of Luxembourg and Prints at Haus Beda in Bitburg

- Zao Wou-Ki, Paintings, Artcurial, center for contemporary plastic art, Paris, France

1991

- Zao Wou-Ki. Personal collection, 1955-1989, Vasarely Foundation, Aix-en-Provence, France

1990

- Zao Wou-Ki. Oils, Indian inks and prints, Museum of Fine Arts, Tours, France

- Zao Wou-Ki. Ten inks, Galerie Kutter, Luxembourg-City, Luxembourg

- Zao Wou-Ki. Paintings and Indian inks, Jan Krugier Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland

1988
- Zao Wou-Ki. 1955-1988, Museum of Art and History, Metz, France

Zao Wou-Ki. 1955-1988, Artcurial, center for contemporary plastic art, Paris, France

- Zao Wou-Ki, Recent Paintings, Jan Krugier Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland

- Zao Wou-Ki, Artcurial Gallery, FIAC 88, Paris, France

- Zao Wou-Ki, Master Art Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan

1987

- Zao Wou-Ki, Recent paintings, Fuji Television Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

- Zao Wou-Ki, Watercolor paintings, engravings, Galerie Kutter, Luxembourg-City, Luxembourg

1986

- Zao Wou-Ki. Inks, French Cultural Center, Rome, Italy

- Zao Wou-Ki. Paintings 1980-1985, Pierre Matisse Gallery, New York, USA

- Zao Wou-Ki, Gallery of France, Paris, France

1985

- Zao Wou-Ki. Etchings, lithographs, aquatints, original etchings, 1952-1981, Editart Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland

1984

- Zao Wou-Ki, Traces (Indian inks), Jan Krugier Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland

- Zao Wou-Ki. Old works, Patrice Trigano Gallery, Paris, France

- Zao Wou-Ki, 1984, Galerie de France, Paris, France

1983

- Zao Wou-Ki, National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan

- Zao Wou-Ki or freeing oneself from the known, Ingres museum, Montauban, France

- Zao Wou-Ki. Paintings and Indian inks, Espace des Cordeliers, Châteauroux, France

- Zao Wou-Ki, National Museum of Fine Arts, Beijing then Zyejiang Academy of Fine Arts, Hangzhou, China

1982

- Paintings by Zao Wou-Ki. 1954-1981, Hong Kong Arts Center, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Zao Wou-Ki. A solo Exhibition of paintings, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore, Singapore.

1981

- Zao Wou-Ki, Paintings, Chinese inks. 1950-1981, National Galleries of the Grand Palais, Paris, France. Then presented in five museums in Japan.

​- Zao Wou-Ki, Prints, Printmakers Art Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan

1980

- Zao Wou-Ki. Large paintings from 1964 to 1979, Museum of History and Art, Luxembourg-City, Luxembourg

- Large paintings by Zao Wou-Ki, Center for Fine Arts, Charleroi, Belgium

- Zao Wou-Ki. Recent wash drawings, Galerie de France, Paris, France

- Zao Wou-Ki, Paintings drawings, 1976-1980, Pierre Matisse Gallery, New York, United States

bottom of page