Pop Zhao: Homecoming—A Retrospective Art Exhibition of Presence and Play

Pop Zhao: Homecoming—A Retrospective Art Exhibition of Presence and Play

Join us at The Fold cafe & gallery for a special in-person event featuring the incredible works of local San Francisco artist, Pop Zhao.

After a 20-year hiatus dedicated to meditation, raising a family, and refining a quieter studio practice, multidisciplinary artist Pop Zhao returns to the San Francisco art scene with a powerful and intimate retrospective at The Fold. This special exhibition celebrates the long-awaited homecoming of an artist in renewal.

Pop Zhao is known for a practice spanning painting, works on paper, and historically, large-scale public and participatory spectacles. Internationally, he is celebrated as a master of "earth art" and for creating the Guinness World Record-holding longest artwork, the 10,000-meter-long "Olympic Dragon." This monumental piece debuted in 2001, covering a section of the Great Wall of China to celebrate the nation winning the bid for the 2008 Olympics.

Zhao's practice, emerging from China, was first defined by politically charged performance pieces like Concept 21 in Beijing. After immigrating to the U.S., he adapted his focus to commemorative public art, including the five-mile-long silk banner of American flags memorializing 9/11 along the San Francisco Embarcadero, and the temporary canvas wrapping of the new Asian Art Museum (a piece that incorporated images from the Dragon). Furthermore, he served the city of San Francisco as an SF Arts Commissioner from 2005 to 2009.

In the two decades since his last public show, Zhao stepped back from the spotlight. This focused pause deepened his perspective, shifting his visual language to explore attention, presence, and the patterns of everyday life through vivid palettes, graphic rhythm, and contemplative compositions. He returns with renewed clarity and resonance.

POP ZHAO: A Retrospective of Presence and Play traces the full arc of Zhao’s prolific career and visual language. This exhibit is a rare opportunity to see the gestures and ideas that once defined his practice and how they resonate anew in the present moment.

• Early Works: See the bold color studies and graphic forms that established his signature style.
• Rarely Seen Pieces: Explore more intimate, contemplative compositions created during his two-decade hiatus.
• A Story of Renewal: Witness the evolution of an artist who moved from grand public gestures to a deep, focused engagement with internal and everyday themes.

Join us for the Opening Reception on Saturday, November 8, 2025 (2:00–9:00 PM) at The Fold — a café, gallery, and community gathering space in San Francisco. Come early to experience the full range of work, connect with the artist, and celebrate a significant moment for the Bay Area's creative landscape.

At 4:00 PM PST, we will host a dedicated Artist Q&A Session with Pop Zhao. This is an invaluable opportunity for attendees to gain direct insights into his creative process, the influences behind his work, and the evolution of his visual language.

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