FAN, ZENG

Artist Bio

Fan Zeng (Chinese, b.1938) is a contemporary master of traditional Chinese painting, best known for his skillfully executed figurative works. Born in Jiangsu, he studied history, literature, painting, and calligraphy, before enrolling in Nankai University. In 1957, he attended the Central Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied painting under Wu Zuoren, Li Keran, Jiang Zhaohe, and Li Kuchan.

His works fuse elements of landscape, flower-and-bird, and figure painting, as well as forms of poetry and calligraphy. His paintings of ancient figures are famous for their simple yet vivid style and vigorous brushstrokes.

He held solo exhibitions in Japan throughout the 1980s, and participated in various exhibitions in Asia. In 1984, a permanent museum was built in Japan to house his works. In addition, he has received numerous awards in design and painting. He became a professor of Eastern Art at Nankai University, and was made department head in 1993. At the age of 63, he was elected as the head of the Nankai University Museum of Antiquities and graduate advisor in both the Fine Arts and Literature departments.

He lives and works in the Baochongzhai suburb of Beijing.