Hu Zi

Hu Zi is a Chinese artist (born in 1981) originally from Shanghai and known for her iconic portraits in which she combines historical figures with contemporary references, favoring gouache and oil painting techniques. The artist began her training in 2000 by attending the China Academy of Art, graduating in 2007. Her first exhibition was in 2008 at the Eastlink Gallery in her hometown. In 2006, she was a guest at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris during a student exchange at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Several years later, in 2014 and then in 2019, Hu Zi was selected for the Glenfiddich Artists in Residence Program and the Swiss Arts Council Artist in Residence, respectively. In 2017, the Raffaelli Art Studio dedicated the solo exhibition “Mozart” to the artist: fascinated by the surroundings of Palazzo Wolkenstein and inspired by the legend that Mozart performed in the halls of the historic building, Hu Zi pays homage to the Austrian musician through a series of dreamlike works. Hu Zi has been included in several Asian and European group exhibitions. She currently lives and works in Shanghai.