Meet Zhongwen Hu | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zhongwen Hu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zhongwen, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Looking back, I don’t think there was ever a moment when I seriously considered giving up. I was very fortunate to recognize painting as my calling at a young age. Some things you simply know deep in your bones, and painting has always been one of those things for me.

Of course, the process comes with difficulties. Sometimes I don’t know how to continue a painting, or I feel creatively stuck for a period of time. But I keep working through it because experience has taught me that those moments are temporary. As long as I continue making work, I eventually find my way through.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a visual artist primarily focused on painting. My painting practice explores the relationship between stillness, perception, and spatial awareness, deeply informed by walking meditation and Taoist philosophy. Through observations of public spaces within natural environments, my work examines shared coexistence and different modes of attention. A lot of my work comes from quietly observing how people exist within shared spaces and how certain environments can subtly shape our mental and emotional states.

Professionally, there have been some exciting milestones in recent years. In 2025, I was honored to receive the Winsor & Newton x Paul Smith’s Foundation International Art Prize. I also had the opportunity to collaborate with Emma Chamberlain on an artist series for Chamberlain Coffee packaging. I’m very proud of those experiences, but what moves me the most is realizing that I’ve continued making art for over 30 years, and I still feel certain that I will continue doing it for the rest of my life.

The process has never been easy, but I believe many challenges become clearer through the act of working itself. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that nothing really moves unless you begin. Action is what creates possibility.

Ultimately, I hope my work can reconnect people with a quieter and more grounded part of themselves.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I was born and am currently based in Shanghai, so I would want to give them a local experience that feels personal to me.

One place I would definitely take them is the Shanghai Museum. It has an incredible collection of classical Chinese art, and there’s so much to learn simply by walking through the galleries. I also really admire the way their exhibitions are curated. There’s always a strong sense of care and attention in how the works are presented.

For a more relaxed and everyday atmosphere, I would take them to Yangpu Park. It’s a place with really comforting Feng Shui, and I’ve always loved the feeling of being there. There’s also an old elephant slide in the park that even my parents played on when they were children. It makes the park feel deeply connected to the memory of the neighborhood and the people who grew up around it.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my parents. They’ve supported me financially for many years, and without them I simply wouldn’t have the creative environment or the life I have now. I know how fortunate I am because not every artist receives that kind of support. I’m deeply grateful for everything they’ve given me throughout this journey.

Website: https://zhongwenhu.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zhongwenhu/