Zhelei Wang

I started as a portrait painter, depicting emotions has always been fascinating for me. In my work, there’s always some ambiguity, blurriness, and a sense of loneliness. Which often reminds people of the artist Gerhard Richter. I take inspiration from Gerhard Richter, Brett Amory, Edward Hopper, Utagawa Hiroshige, and Funakoshi Katsura. I appreciate artworks that address loneliness and small things that people hardly pay attention to. My painting style is closer to the way I see this world, that there’s 70% of grey area and you cannot clearly define everything. I want to connect with the viewers through this ambiguity. Painting allows me to transfer the world in my view to the audience in the most honest way. After all, it’s my way to communicate with others as an artist.

Fine Arts School Affiliated to China Central Academy of Fine Arts
Glasgow School of Arts
California College of The Arts Painting&Drawing

Group Exhibition 2015, CAFA, Beijing, China
“Believe In Truth” Group Exhibition 2020, Oakland, US
“The de Young Open” Juried Group Exhibition, de Young Museum 2020, San Francisco, US
“Infinite Finite” Restart Gallery 2021, Hangzhou, China
SOLO Studio show, California College of the Arts, 2021, San Francisco, CA
“Sunny Art Prize Shortlisted Group Show” 2022, Sunny Art Centre, London, UK