Wanxin Zhang, our 2006 first-place grant recipient, had his work recently acquired by the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA). Zhang’s sculpture Special Ambassador (2011) was obtained for their permanent collection.
Along with this achievement, in 2021, Zhang’s piece Warrior with Colored Face was also acquired by The Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the American Museum of Ceramic Arts. This sculpture piece is now also a part of their permanent collection.
In 2006, Zhang’s sculptural installation Laramie made him the first place Groot Grant recipient, and his work has only continued to flourish. Zhang’s sculptural artwork represents the unity between historical references and contemporary cultural context that represent and convey social and political commentary. His work is influenced by the Bay Area figurative movement.
This exciting accomplishment is a testament to Zhang’s visionary and creative expression. Congratulations!
About the Artist:
Wanxin Zhang is an established studio sculptor and educator. With an established art career as a sculptor in China, Zhang relocated to San Francisco where he received his Master’s in Fine Arts from the Academy of Art University in 1996. With a myriad of awards that recognize his work, Zhang’s sculptures have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the nation.