BIOGRAPHY
Zao Wou-Ki en 1988 dans son atelier. © AFP - Ulf Andersen / Aurimages
Zao Wou-Ki was a Chinese painter and printmaker born in February 1921 in Beijing and who died on April 9, 2013, in Switzerland.
A graduate of the Hangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Zao Wou-Ki left his native country to move to Paris in 1948. There he met Sam Francis, Joan Mitchell, Jean-Paul Riopelle, Hans Hartung, and Pierre Soulages. Henri Michaux, without ever having met him, spontaneously wrote eight poems to accompany his first lithographs. Lecture par Henri Michaux de huit lithographies de Zao Wou-Ki [Henri Michaux’s Reading of Eight Lithographs by Zao Wou-Ki] was published in 1950, marking the beginning of an unwavering friendship between the two men.
Zao Wou-Ki’s body of work includes the realistic paintings of his early works (1935–1949), as well as large-format oil-on-canvas works that moved toward abstraction beginning in the 1950s, then lyrical abstraction in the 1960s, as well as Indian ink drawings and calligraphy after 1971, encouraged by Michaux.
France has honored him on several occasions. He was named Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor, Commander of the National Order of Merit, and Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters. In 2002, Zao Wou-Ki was elected to the Academy of Fine Arts, succeeding Jean Carzou.
Zao Wou-Ki’s work is now represented in over 150 collections across 20 countries.
EXHIBITIONS
2026
- The gallery celebrates its 40th anniversary. Carte blanche to Pierre Wat, Galerie Berthet-Aittouarès, Paris, France.
- BRAFA 2026, Galerie Berthet-Aittouarès, Brussels, Belgium
2025
- Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker, M+, Hong Kong
2024
- Mirrors of the Portrait, West Bund Museum, Shangai, China
2018
- Zao Wou-Ki. L'espace est silence, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, France
2016
- Zao Wou-Ki collector, Hospice Saint-Roch Museum, Issoudun, France
- No Limits. Zao Wou-Ki, Asia Society Museum, New York; Colby College Museum, Waterville, USA.
- By the ocean on the infinite horizon, the wind of spring brings me home, 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-Ki. Between 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 1982-1996 – Tribute 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