Rachel Zhang

Saatchi Yates

4 days left

Rachel Zhang

Saatchi Yates

4 days left

Chinese American artist Rachel Zhang, based in Brooklyn, NY, delves into the absurdities and anxieties surrounding personal autonomy and systems of power. Through surrealist figurative scenes, Zhang explores the evolving beliefs that structure social hierarchies and manifestations of control. Her oil paintings often depict figures in conflict or metamorphosis, men turning into bowling pins, and commuters morphing into cogs on wheels.
"I’m interested in the dualities of rigidity and instability, conformity and transgression, the individual and the crowd, tenderness and cruelty,"
Zhang's work reflects her nuanced perspective on visibility, otherness, and the complexities of identity in relation to her cultural heritage and societal expectations. Everyday public spaces - gym changing rooms, dive bars and gas stations become sources for her surrealist characters to come alive. She draws from personal and collective histories, including the intersection of Asian American experiences, family narratives during 20th-century China, and broader histories of women's roles.
Rachel Zhang, Hot place heart space, 2024, Oil on canvas.
Introspection
Zhang’s work immerses viewers in introspective worlds through layered oil techniques, subtle tonal shifts, and textured depth. Her figures appear suspended in moments of transformation, embodying personal and societal tension. This precise yet fluid approach invites reflection, with each composition blending surreal realism and symbolic weight. Zhang’s art creates spaces where identity and autonomy are explored, encouraging viewers to question the societal forces shaping their sense of self.
Rachel Zhang, Meeting at a train station (Memory of 1882), 2022, Oil on canvas.
"I see my perspective on society through my works as coming from an Asian American female consciousness, with its complex relationship to visibility and othering."
Rachel Zhang, Seeing permission to enter, 2024, Oil on canvas.
Metamorphosis
Blending surrealism, Chinese heritage, and themes of metamorphosis, Zhang crafts layered compositions that depict identity in flux. Her dreamlike scenes delve into the subconscious, while Chinese influences surface through symbols and narratives inspired by family history and folklore. Figures often appear mid-transformation, embodying the tension between autonomy and cultural expectations. Her work encourages viewers to reflect on self-evolution within intricate societal frameworks.
Artist Studio; Rachel Zhang, New York, 2024
Transformation
Zhang’s paintings invite viewers to engage with scenes marked by conflict and transformation. Her figures, often caught in moments of introspection or metamorphosis, provoke reflection on human agency within modern power structures. By highlighting the tension between individuality and societal forces, Zhang presents surreal yet relatable worlds where public and private identities intersect. Her art encourages viewers to question the forces that shape personal autonomy and collective identity.
Installation View; Rachel Zhang, Saatchi Yates, London, 2024.
Installation View; Rachel Zhang, Saatchi Yates, London, 2024.