Artwork | Bree Zhang

Portfolio - Bree Zhang

Click each work to see the full written description attached inside

Recent Artwork since 2020

Recent works made since 2020 that don't fall in any particular category, ranging from artwork exploring concepts about genetics and autism, calls to action to vote, and design concepts for my novel ideas.

Dreams

These dreamscapes and imaginary lands are rendered spontaneously without any prior planning, sketching, or reference photos. Like lucid dreaming, I let go of my inhibitions and allow my imagination to fabricate the landscape around me as I revel in the unconstrained fields of my mind and the different variations of creativity it can manifest.

Snapshots in Time

The world as I see it is composed of snapshots of meaningful places, objects, and people that have emotional significance to me, no matter if they are happy, funny, sad, or tragic. I capture these moments in memory so that I can keep them with me forever, etch them forever in the molecular gaps between the threading of my canvas or paper. Even if many years have passed, I can reflect, learn, and grow stronger from these irreplaceable experiences. Without them, I wouldn't be Bree Zhang.

"Returning Home"

A collection of four works made in conjunction with a guzheng song I composed for my grandma. Each piece shows treasured moments with my grandmother that I hold dearest in my heart: feeding fish above a pond in my hometown, blowing candles during my birthday, simply laughing together, and most importantly—reuniting with her after 7 years of separation. Click here for the song and a more detailed description of my relationship with my grandmother.

Daydreams

These pieces (made in conjunction with my song, Daydreams) detail a time in the past filled with insecurities, fears, loneliness, and self-loathing, a time when I floundered in search of an identity. To the girl in this song (Me Of the Past), she would’ve never imagined herself living the life featured at the end of this song (artwork which I paint in saturated beautiful colors), so it’s just yet another “daydream,” a beautiful lie she repeats to herself in hopes of seeing change. But someday, it will come true, someday ❤️

The Sides of Me You Don't See

A 3-D interactive work that explores my struggle to come to terms with my Chinese identity growing up in a white community. Click inside the first picture for the full description

A Mother's Love

This series of 12 art pieces (paired with my music composition “A Mother’s Love”) is a tribute to my mother and all the other beautiful mothers in this world who have given us irreplaceable support, wisdom, care, and love since the day we were born, from changing our diapers, to teaching us how to walk, to comforting us when we are sad, to cheering on our successes, to supporting us even when we leave home to explore the world. No matter how old I become, I will always keep my mother in my heart and remember all the sacrifices and hardships she endured to provide me opportunities to grow, learn, and love. I love you 妈妈. 🥰

Ordinary Meets Unordinary

I elevate seemingly mundane situations and objects into their bizarre and outlandish counterparts. These pieces retain the structural integrity of the ordinary world but transcend the constraints of reality through the arrangement of subjects and background, of composition and space. Some works are simply funny and humorous or inspirational, while other works may be sad or frightening. Regardless, they are all defined by the intersection of the normal with the unusual.

Female Idealizations and Expectations

This artwork investigates the impact of societal expectations on the roles and archetypes of women. I address topics like objectification, clothing, and body images. Some messages are direct and explicit, others are hidden between the lines of normal life—more difficult to identity and see but still potent nonetheless.