Zhiwei Tu was born in 1951 in Northern Guangdong Province, China, and he grew up working his family’s land and herding sheep. As a child he attended the village school where he became infatuated with painting and drawing. He earned a BA from the Guangzhou Institute of Fine Arts in 1975 and later became a teacher of art at the Teaching College of Shiao Gaun.
The Cultural Revolution in China forced the closing of all graduate programs until 1978. During this interruption, he traveled extensively throughout China studying history and culture and producing hundreds of paintings. In 1978 he entered a competition for admission to the Guangzhou Institute, won, and earned his master’s degree. He joined the Chinese Artists Association in 1985.
In 1987 he went to the United States to study at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He studied both Art and English full-time and drove all over the midwest and east coast for invitational shows. He has had numerous one-man shows all over the United States and throughout the Orient.
“Tu Zhiwei has been diligent and eager to learn since childhood. He loves painting and painting. He has been fascinated by paintings and fainted in the studio.”
In 1993 he joined the National Oil Painters Association and recieved the Special Prize of the President in 1996. He won the gold medal of the annual meeting in 1998 and became a master member in 1999. He was elected vice chairman of the association in 2002 and chairman in 2004, making him the first Chinese to hold that position.
His work has been included in the “Chinese Modern Artists Celebrity Dictionary” and he has won numerous awards. He continues to be an influential figure in both Chinese and American art. His journey from a village school to leading a national art association is truly remarkable.
Q: What defines Zhiwei Tu’s artistic journey
A: His journey from a rural village in China to becoming a leading figure in American and Chinese art. His work is rooted in his Chinese heritage but has evolved through his experiences in the United States. He has achieved remarkable success, including becoming the first Chinese chairman of the National Oil Painters Association.