Zao Wou-Ki (1921-2013) - Untitled 185

Zao Wou-Ki
Untitled, 185
1968

Signed, inscribed, and dated “Wou-Ki [in Chinese] ZAO 68” along the lower edge.
Lithograph on Arches paper.

50.8 x 65.2 cm (20 x 25 5/8 in.)

Executed in France in 1968, this work is from an edition of 120, plus 10 artist’s proofs.

Literature: Ågerup 185 (Zao Wou Ki - The Graphik Work 1995-2000 )

Please note: the lithograph shows some minor discoloration caused by previous framing. However, this will not be visible once the work is properly reframed.

A master of post-war art and among the highest-selling Chinese painters of his generation, Zao Wou-Ki synthesized elements of modernism, calligraphy, and traditional Chinese landscape painting into a uniquely lyrical visual language. Working primarily in oil, watercolor, and later ink, Zao developed an instantly recognizable style defined by dynamic abstraction, luminous color, and expressive linework.

Much like traditional Chinese landscapes, Zao’s compositions evoke fragments of vast, atmospheric worlds, balancing fluidity and transparency with powerful internal energy. Early influences included Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso. After relocating to Paris in 1948, he became deeply involved in the city’s avant-garde scene and formed friendships with artists such as Alberto Giacometti, Joan Miró, and Sam Francis.

During his lifetime, Zao exhibited internationally and received numerous prestigious honours, including the Praemium Imperiale for Painting and the Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur. Today, his works are held in major museum collections worldwide, including the Louvre Museum, Centre Pompidou, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Tate, among many others. His works have achieved prices exceeding $65 million on the secondary market.