Zhang Yu 张羽

Born in Tianjin in 1959, Zhang Yu is one of China's most distinguished ink painters and has been a key figure in the radical rethinking of Chinese brush painting. For a century, progressive art theorists in China have urged traditional painters to break away from the classic mold and make art that is relevant to a rapidly changing world. Some of the most courageous work in contemporary Chinese culture has been a result of this cultural experimentation and Zhang Yu's commitment to it, both as publisher and practitioner, has positioned him as an acknowledged master in its evolution. His work is now in many important international collections.