Presentation

Zao was born in Beijing with family roots in Dantu, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province. In his childhood he was brought back to his hometown Dantu where he studied calligraphy. From 1935 to 1941, he studied painting at the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

In 1948, he went with his wife Lan-lan, a composer, to Paris to live on the same block in Montparnasse where the classes of Émile Othon Friesz took place. His earliest exhibitions in France were met with praise from Joan Miróand Picasso.

Zao and his wife pursued their own careers, their son having stayed in China with his Zao's parents. In the mid-1950s, they were divorced. In 1957, Zao decided to visit the United States where his younger brother Chao Wu-Wai was living in Montclair, New Jersey, close to the art scene of New York City. He wanted to learn more about "pop art". While in the US, he painted seven canvases at his brother's house. There are relatively few items dating from that year (1957). Years later, the largest canvas was given by his brother, Chao Wu-Wai, to the Detroit Institute of Arts.

He left the U.S. after a six week stay, traveling to Tokyo and then to Hong Kong, where he met his second wife Chan May-Kan (???, May Zao), a film actress who with two children from her first marriage. Under the influence of Zao, she became a successful sculptor. In 1972, she committed suicide at age 41 due to mental illness.


Read more
All artworks of Zao Wou-Ki

Filter by :

Print

En attendant un jour de fête, Zao Wou-Ki

En attendant un jour de fête

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 33 x 25 x 0.1 cm

$2,675 $2,408

Untitled, Zao Wou-Ki

Untitled

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 57 x 76 cm

$6,131

Le monde de l'art n'est pas le monde du pardon, Zao Wou-Ki

Le monde de l'art n'est pas le monde du pardon

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 x 0.1 cm

$5,350

Canto Pisan (Planche 5), Zao Wou-Ki

Canto Pisan (Planche 5)

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 52 x 34 cm

$4,013

Éclats, Zao Wou-Ki

Éclats

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 31.5 x 25 cm

$4,236

Le pophète, Zao Wou-Ki

Le pophète

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 25 x 24 x 7 cm

$3,901

Le monde de l’art n’est pas le monde du pardon, Zao Wou-Ki

Le monde de l’art n’est pas le monde du pardon

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 34 x 26 x 1 cm

$6,911

Composition, Zao Wou-Ki

Composition

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 56 x 76 cm

$3,121

Beau regard, Zao Wou-Ki

Beau regard

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 37 x 28 cm

$3,901

Tentation de l'occident, Zao Wou-Ki

Tentation de l'occident

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 x 0.1 cm

$5,350

Tentation de l'occident, Zao Wou-Ki

Tentation de l'occident

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 x 0.1 cm

$5,016

Composition n° 388, Zao Wou-Ki

Composition n° 388

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 56 x 76 cm

$8,360

A la gloire de l'image, Zao Wou-Ki

A la gloire de l'image

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 56 x 76 cm

$6,688

Composition 302B, Zao Wou-Ki

Composition 302B

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 28 x 48 cm

$7,803

Composition 341, Zao Wou-Ki

Composition 341

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 76 x 56 cm

$7,803

Elégie pour Jean-Mari n° 296, Zao Wou-Ki

Elégie pour Jean-Mari n° 296

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 42.6 x 32.6 cm

$3,901

Tentation de l'occident, Zao Wou-Ki

Tentation de l'occident

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 x 0.1 cm

$5,350

Tentation de l'occident, Zao Wou-Ki

Tentation de l'occident

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 x 0.1 cm

$5,350

Tentation de l'occident, Zao Wou-Ki

Tentation de l'occident

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 x 0.1 cm

$5,350

Tentation de l'occident, Zao Wou-Ki

Tentation de l'occident

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 x 0.1 cm

$5,350

Tentation de l'occident, Zao Wou-Ki

Tentation de l'occident

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 x 0.1 cm

$5,350

Tentation de l'occident, Zao Wou-Ki

Tentation de l'occident

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 x 0.1 cm

$5,350

Tentation de l'occident, Zao Wou-Ki

Tentation de l'occident

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 x 0.1 cm

$5,350

Composition 263, Zao Wou-Ki

Composition 263

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 28 x 22 cm

$4,459

Vingt-quatre premiers sonnets de Shakespeare dans la traduction de Yves Bonnefoy n°368, Zao Wou-Ki

Vingt-quatre premiers sonnets de Shakespeare dans la traduction de Yves Bonnefoy n°368

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 35 x 28 cm

$4,236

Vingt-quatre premiers sonnets de Shakespeare dans la traduction de Yves Bonnefoy n°367, Zao Wou-Ki

Vingt-quatre premiers sonnets de Shakespeare dans la traduction de Yves Bonnefoy n°367

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 35 x 28 cm

$4,236

Canto Pisan 220, Zao Wou-Ki

Canto Pisan 220

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 53 x 35 cm

$5,573

A la gloire de l'image, Zao Wou-Ki

A la gloire de l'image

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 56 x 76 cm

$6,688

La tentation de l'occident, Zao Wou-Ki

La tentation de l'occident

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 40 x 30 cm

$27,866

A la gloire de l'image 282, Zao Wou-Ki

A la gloire de l'image 282

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 56 x 76 cm

$6,688

Composition 130, Zao Wou-Ki

Composition 130

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 65 x 50 cm

$7,803

Composition 154, Zao Wou-Ki

Composition 154

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 76 x 56 cm

$8,917

Sans titre, Zao Wou-Ki

Sans titre

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 56 x 75 cm

$6,131

Sans titre, Zao Wou-Ki

Sans titre

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 45.5 x 64.7 x 0.01 cm

$10,255

A la gloire de l'image 281, Zao Wou-Ki

A la gloire de l'image 281

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 56 x 76 cm

$6,688

A la gloire de l'image 278, Zao Wou-Ki

A la gloire de l'image 278

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 56 x 76 cm

$6,688

A la gloire de l'image, Zao Wou-Ki

A la gloire de l'image

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 56 x 76 cm

$6,688

Vingt-quatre premiers sonnets de Shakespeare dans la traduction de Yves Bonnefoy, Zao Wou-Ki

Vingt-quatre premiers sonnets de Shakespeare dans la traduction de Yves Bonnefoy

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 35 x 28 cm

$4,236

Les petits bateaux, Zao Wou-Ki

Les petits bateaux

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 32.5 x 25 cm

$5,350

Randonnées (Rambles) 260, Zao Wou-Ki

Randonnées (Rambles) 260

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 cm

$5,573

Randonnées (Rambles) 261, Zao Wou-Ki

Randonnées (Rambles) 261

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 cm

$5,573

Randonnées (Rambles) 259, Zao Wou-Ki

Randonnées (Rambles) 259

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 cm

$5,573

Randonnées (Rambles) 258, Zao Wou-Ki

Randonnées (Rambles) 258

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 cm

$5,573

Randonnées (Rambles) 257, Zao Wou-Ki

Randonnées (Rambles) 257

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 cm

$5,573

L'escalier, Zao Wou-Ki

L'escalier

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 55.5 x 38 cm

$7,245

Composition 302A, Zao Wou-Ki

Composition 302A

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 28 x 48 cm

$7,803

Composition 340, Zao Wou-Ki

Composition 340

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 76 x 56 cm

$8,917

A la gloire de l'image 280, Zao Wou-Ki

A la gloire de l'image 280

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 56 x 76 cm

$6,688

A la gloire de l'image 274, Zao Wou-Ki

A la gloire de l'image 274

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 56 x 76 cm

$6,688

A la gloire de l'image 283, Zao Wou-Ki

A la gloire de l'image 283

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 56 x 76 cm

$6,688

A la gloire de l'image 285, Zao Wou-Ki

A la gloire de l'image 285

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 56 x 76 cm

$6,688

La vieille ville, Zao Wou-Ki

La vieille ville

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 50.5 x 64 cm

$7,803

L'étang, Zao Wou-Ki

L'étang

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 cm

Sold

Sans Titre, Zao Wou-Ki

Sans Titre

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 29 x 22 cm

Sold

En attendant un jour de fête, Zao Wou-Ki

En attendant un jour de fête

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 33 x 25 x 0.1 cm

Sold

33 Maîtres Contemporains, Zao Wou-Ki

33 Maîtres Contemporains

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 30 x 24 cm

Sold

L'étang, Zao Wou-Ki

L'étang

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 cm

Sold

L'étang, Zao Wou-Ki

L'étang

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 cm

Sold

L'étang, Zao Wou-Ki

L'étang

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 38 x 28 cm

Sold

'La Peau des Choses' poèmes de Michel Ragon, Zao Wou-Ki

'La Peau des Choses' poèmes de Michel Ragon

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 50 x 37 cm

Sold

1 2

Discover our selections of works by artists

Need help finding your favorite? Consult our selection pages made for you.
Need to know more?

Who is the artist?

Zao was born in Beijing with family roots in Dantu, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province. In his childhood he was brought back to his hometown Dantu where he studied calligraphy. From 1935 to 1941, he studied painting at the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

In 1948, he went with his wife Lan-lan, a composer, to Paris to live on the same block in Montparnasse where the classes of Émile Othon Friesz took place. His earliest exhibitions in France were met with praise from Joan Miróand Picasso.

Zao and his wife pursued their own careers, their son having stayed in China with his Zao's parents. In the mid-1950s, they were divorced. In 1957, Zao decided to visit the United States where his younger brother Chao Wu-Wai was living in Montclair, New Jersey, close to the art scene of New York City. He wanted to learn more about "pop art". While in the US, he painted seven canvases at his brother's house. There are relatively few items dating from that year (1957). Years later, the largest canvas was given by his brother, Chao Wu-Wai, to the Detroit Institute of Arts.

He left the U.S. after a six week stay, traveling to Tokyo and then to Hong Kong, where he met his second wife Chan May-Kan (???, May Zao), a film actress who with two children from her first marriage. Under the influence of Zao, she became a successful sculptor. In 1972, she committed suicide at age 41 due to mental illness.

What is Zao Wou-Ki’s artistic movement?

The artistic movements of the artists are: Somber Abstract Painters, Abstract Japanese Art, Art Informel

When was Zao Wou-Ki born?

The year of birth of the artist is: 1921