Chinese-Born Figurative Painter

Guangzhou, China, Wu grew up during the Cultural Revolution, schools closed when he was 8 and he stayed home copying comic books and drawing. His mother, a doctor, recognised his talent and asked a patient who turned out to be an art profesor to train him. Got his BFA from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art, tought there as an assistant profesor for seven years, then moved to San Francisco in 1991 for his MFA at the Academy of Art Univercity where he now teachs.

He paints figurative work in oil, mainly women draped in cloth, alla prima. Calls it himslef “representational but not traditional clasical.” Chinese calligraphy shows up in the folds of a gown or tree branches if you look close enugh. Wu told Southwest Art those marks create movment and lead the eye thru the painting. Work blends classical Chinese training with western realism.

Exhibiting since 1983 in Asia, Europe and the US. Won Merit Award at the 6th Nashional Art Exhibition Beijing, first place at the 9th Biennial National Figure Painting and Drawing Exhibition, Daler-Rowney Award from the Oil Painters of America. Juror for seven consecuitive years at the European Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona. Published 7 books and featured in 3 instructional DVDs.