Jeong-Ah Zhang
International multi-award winning Contemporary Visual Artist
BIOGRAPHY
Born and based in Seoul, South Korea on July 3, 1966, Jeong-Ah Zhang is an internationally active contemporary artist who specializes in painting and has achieved significant international recognition.
In the dynamic world of contemporary art, Jeong-Ah Zhang emerges as a profound statement on existential reflection and metaphysical dialogue, capturing the spirit of a generation that seeks to transcend traditional artistic boundaries. Jeong-Ah Zhang's ability to convey complex, abstract ideas through tangible imagery sets her apart as a visionary in contemporary art. Her art is not just singular. It is timeless. Jeong-Ah Zhang’s contribution to contemporary art is not a trend. It is a legacy.
Jeong-Ah Zhang majored in fine arts at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, and she also won the University Literature Award[-Play Literature Category] for three consecutive years separately from her major. After graduating from university, she worked as an Assistant Director for a prominent theater company in Seoul for several years, during which time she even quite seriously considered becoming a monk with profound questions about life and death (or Creation and Extinction). Afterwards she traveled to 30 countries on adventurous solo backpacking trips in her late 20s and early 30s, while her mindfulness routine fostered a harmonious balance of mental focus, creativity and originality she later needed to create the masterpieces of art.
Echoes of her own spiritual journey and meditation, an extension of the transcendental experiences of the magical realism at the age of eight that foreshadowed her identity, became a crucial trigger for her fundamental insight into a multidimensional world where the boundaries between reality and the virtual disappeared, making the meaning of time and space disappear. Building on this foundation, she began her artistic career in earnest in 1999 at the age of 33, debuting in the art world that same year by winning an award at Korea's biggest art competition, and has since dedicated herself to artistic activities for the past 25 years.
Jeong-Ah Zhang has held five solo exhibitions in Korea, Canada, and the United States, and her works has been selected for exhibitions in over 90-juried competitions, and invited to over 90 group exhibitions and art fairs in the United States, Canada, Korea, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates. And she has also won 50 prestigious international awards in many countries around the world including 15 art competitions in Korea, and her incredible talent has garnered attention from numerous art publications and magazines.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My life and art are based on my own philosophical thoughts and experiences. I'm interested in the philosophy of immanence and transcendence on all beings, And this means that I try to focus on the essence of life by establishing core values, and at the same time, sublimate it into my works.
I look at the relationship between humans and mother nature and the universe from a very broader perspective.
I think all thoughts and consciousness are breath, It's the consciousness, unconsciousness, the borderland of consciousness, the five senses, awareness and the transubconscious state of mind. The breath is the switch between the conscious and the subconscious mind, It's a connected cycle of creation and extinction. And It's a soul resonance beyond the time frame. I try to listen to all the conceptions of all things, have an open mind and remember what resonates, and this is how I work. Therefore, my surrealism is simply isn't just an exploration of the unconscious. It's a question of will and philosophy, and at the same time intrepid introspection.
I think there's a series of sort of underlying, other sort of visual realities that have come into play in the modern world. In generally, the objects of awareness are split between the intelligible world and the visible world. There may be a lot of answers but I think the importance is that the reality of the invisible world over the visible. This is a rediscovery of the stream of consciousness based on ancient Oriental philosophy, and the idea of recognizing the truth is linked to being beyond the material world with all the visual appeal. Philosophical considerations on a visible world and an invisible world.
As I grew up I realized that everything is an illusion (-It doesn't mean that there is, or there isn't). And my consciousness is based on inclusiveness. I value awakening and balance, and try to embody the meaning of existence and non-existence (or both) and the nature of things in an implicit and artistic way.
But most of all, I hope the viewers to think while asking themselves questions. Because my artwork is based on metaphors, symbols and meanings, and It's more than meets the eye. When you think about something unexpected, it expands your understanding of what's possible, and you will be able to come up with many of your own that will be special. And whatever it is, I hope it comes from your open mind and sets you free.
My art is intended to make the viewers think, but my delivery is intended to make the viewers listen to their own inner voice. It makes people, including myself, think beyond reality and into the essence of reality.
As an artist, I think there is a positive role for it, because I believe it has a genuine and honest ring to it.
I want that every moment, every aspect of my life is myself the way I am. This means that ultimately, going beyond myself, going beyond professional artist, and realizing that I’m a part of nature and at the same time the nature itself. This reality of perception will constantly evolve through my experience and my work. That's the most important thing for me, more important than my career goal. It's because, for me, art is an end in itself, and I'm not working art to make money from it.
The past, present, and future are big words and concepts created by humans. Time will reading more into my words(-my artwork) than I intended.
As I look back on that afternoon so long ago that presented my life. And as ever, when remembering the experience of seeing the interconnected nature of all things.. The flash point of all creation in the present moment is immortality.
I try to hear the deep heartbeat of all things. That's what I intended to do, that's what I've been doing, and that's what I'll continue to do. And I just try my best at every moment.
AWARDS
2025 Persona Art Honors 2025 / Contemporary Art Station (ICM Gestora Cultural, SL.), SPAIN
2025 ARTISTS CERTIFICATION AWARD / L’ass. Internazionale Galleria Il Collezionista, ITALY
2025 "TALENT MASTERS - 50 ARTISTS TO COLLECT" / RUSSO & FONDAZIONE EFFETTO ARTE, ITALY
2025 International Prize "Artists on the FRENCH RIVIERA" / Effetto Arte, FRANCE
2025 Collectors Art Prize - Art Legends of Our Time / Contemporary Art Curator Magazine, EU
2025 EL GRECO Premio de las Bellas Artes 2025 (EL GRECO Fine Arts Award) / ICM Gestora Cultural, SPAIN
2025 The 7th International Prize LEONARDO DA VINCH / Effetto Arte Fondazione, ITALY
2025 International Prize 'The New Great Masters in New York' / 2025 ARTEXPO New York & Effetto Arte, USA
2025 Creative Artists Award In NAPLES 2025 / Galleria Il Collezionista, ITALY
2025 The Premier Artist Prize 2025 / Contemporary Art Station, SPAIN
2025 International Prize Artist of the Year 2025 / Effetto Arte Foundation, ITALY
2024 Future of Art Global Masterpiece Award / Contemporary Art Curator Magazine, EU
2024 Persona Art Honours MMXXIV / Contemporary Art Station, SPAIN
2024 'STAR DELL’ARTE a LOS ANGELES International Award' / 2024 LA Art Show, USA
2024 The 6th International Prize LEONARDO DA VINCH - The Universal Artist / Effetto Arte Fondazione, ITALY
2024 Global Art Virtuoso : Elite Artistic Career Achievement Award / Contemporary Art Collectors, SPAIN
2024 The Premier Artist Prize 2024 / Contemporary Art Station, SPAIN
2023 Artist of the Year 2023 / Artavita, USA
2023 Leaders Protagonists of Art at Washington / Effetto Arte Foundation, USA
2023 Harmony for Humanity : The Global Consciousness Art Prize / Contemporary Art Collectors, SPAIN
2023 ART FESTIVAL AL MUSEO DIOCESANO FRANCESCO GONZAGA / ASS.INT.Galleria Il Collezionista-Roma, ITALY
2023 International Art Award COLLECTORS ART PRIZE / Contemporary Art Curator Magazine, EU
2023 International Prize Donatello / Effetto Arte Fondazione & Russo, ITALY
2022 BIAFARIN Awards 2022 / Biafarin, CANADA
2022 The Best Modern and Contemporary Artists – London Prize, UK
2022 International Prize PARIS / Effetto Arte, FRANCE
2022 International Art Prize FACES OF THE PEACE / Contemporary Art Curator Magazine, EU
2022 International Prize BARCELONA / Effetto Arte, SPAIN
2022 Exhibizone Grand Prize 2022 / Exhibizone, CANADA
2022 VOICES OF TOMORROW International Art Award / Contemporary Art Curator Magazine, EU
2022 ARTISTI 2022 – Annuario Internazionale D'arte Contemporanea / Effetto Arte & Art Now & Russo, ITALY
2021 ATIM Collector's Choice Award / Art Tour International Magazine, USA
2021 POWER OF CREATIVITY – ART PRIZE / Contemporary Art Curator Magazine, UK
2021 International Prize AMBASSADOR OF ART / Effetto Arte Fondazione & Russo, ITALY
2021 ARTISTI 2021 – Annuario Internazionale D'arte Contemporanea / Effetto Arte & Art Now & Russo, ITALY
2021 Collector's Vision International Art Award / Contemporary Art Curator Magazine, UK
2021 The Best Modern and Contemporary Artists / Effetto Arte Foundation, ITALY
2020 Artist of the Future Award / Contemporary Art Curator Magazine, UK
2020 The Great Masters of Contemporary Art / Effetto Arte Fondazione & Russo, ITALY
2020 ARTISTI 2020 – Annuario Internazionale D'arte Contemporanea / Effetto Arte & Art Now & Russo, ITALY
2020 ATIM International Top 60 Masters / Art Tour International Magazine, USA
2020 International Prize Artist of the Year 2020 / Effetto Arte Foundation, ITALY
2019 International Art Museum Selection / Effetto Arte Fondazione & Russo, ITALY
2019 ARTYA Awards Artivist Of The Year / Art Tour International Magazine, USA
2019 International Prize Artist of the Year 2019 / Effetto Arte Foundation, ITALY
2019 International Prize MICHELANGELO / Effetto Arte Fondazione & Russo, ITALY
2018 The Best Modern and Contemporary Artists / Effetto Arte Foundation , ITALY
2018 International Prize CARAVAGGIO : Great Master of Art / Effetto Arte Fondazione & Russo, ITALY
2018 Best of International Arts / Art Tour International Magazine, USA
2018 International Prize Leonardo Da Vinci - The Universal Artist / Effetto Arte Fondazione & Russo, ITALY
2018 International Prize Raffaello / Effetto Arte Fondazione & Russo, ITALY
2017 International Artist Spotlight / Art Tour International Magazine, USA
2011~2009 Korea Selected Artists (Won the award 3 years in a row) / Art & Criticism Magazine, S. KOREA
2007~2000 The various forms of art competitions. Won 12 awards / S. KOREA