Zhang, Lu

Lu Zhang is a Chinese born artist from Baltimore, Maryland. She has her BFA from MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art), Baltimore, MD. Selected solo exhibitions include: (2008) Randall Scott Gallery, Washington DC and Decker Gallery, Baltimore, MD. Selected group exhibitions include: (2009) C Grimaldis Gallery – “Sublime Structure” and “Summer,” Baltimore, MD and Stamp Gallery – “Pulse,” College Park, MD. The Art Registry is showing selections from three bodies of drawings by Zhang: the Opera series (beards, hairpieces and headdresses), the Rice series (Contraption) and the Tile series (a platform for collecting falling drawings). The Opera series is based on props used in Chinese opera. Beards, hairpieces and headdresses are suspended symmetrically in negative space. The ink lines on the paper look effortlessly applied, wispy and delicate. In the Rice series, Zhang experiments with scale. The drawings emulate from a miniscule granule and through improvisation fill the paper with spontaneous marks - evidence of defined fine motor skills. The Tile series questions the crossover between sculpture, painting and drawing. Zhang starts with archival hardwood and applies a thin layer of clay to the wood. The surface attains tactile texture by a building up of the Acrylic medium. The Acrylic drawing wraps around the corners of the panels giving the work a sculptural feel. In all of her work, Zhang continues to be honor the process of creation and the dialogue with the medium.