Colors of Memory: Celebrating Chinese New Year by Ni Zhu

Date: January 4th, 2025 – March 1st, 2025
Reception: Saturday, January 18th, 2025
Time: 3 PM to 5 PM
Location: Lightspace Gallery, International Art Museum of America

Exhibition Title: Colors of Memory: Celebrating the Chinese New Year

Artist Statement:
Through Colors of Memory, Ni explores the deep connections between tradition, memory, and the transformative power of cultural celebration. As an immigrant in San Francisco, the Chinese New Year evokes a poignant mix of nostalgia and joy. Each lion dance, lantern, and family gathering brings the essence of home closer while celebrating the richness of a multicultural metropolis.

This exhibition captures the interplay between vivid color and emotional depth, weaving together elements of the past and present. Red lanterns, blue shadows, and orange glows become symbols of the shared journey of finding home in new places, honoring the roots that shape us while embracing the future.

Artist Biography:
Ni is an award-winning oil painter based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Born in southern China, she pursued a law degree at Beijing University before discovering her passion for painting. After moving to North America, Ni earned her MFA from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, studying under master painters and refining her distinctive style.

A signature member of the Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society, Ni has garnered numerous accolades, including the Best of Show Award in the Women Artists of the West 54th National Exhibition (2024) and Best Impressionism Award in the NOAPS Best of America Exhibition (2023). Ni’s journey from law to art mirrors her transition from China to North America, enriching her artistic exploration of identity, tradition, and place.

Host or Publisher International Art Museum of America