Zhang Bu, the artist

Born in 1934 in the the remote village of Changcheung, Hobei province of Northern China, Zhang Bu was interested in art from the time he was old enough to draw a picture in the dust of the road.

Zhang Bu's father and grandfather were farmers and carpenters who crafted furniture from the wood of the area. While he was still very young his artistic abilities enabled him to become skilled enough to decorate this finished furniture.

His family endured the years of cruelty during the Japanese Invasion of China. Later, the conflict between the government of Chiang Kai Chek and the Communist insurgents brought more grief.

The Artist, Zhang Bu in his large studio in
Victoria, BC, Canada

Following his education, Zhang Bu worked as an editorial cartoonist for the Peoples Daily, and was trained and worked as an electrician for state electrical generating plants. His dream of being an artist was not dead.

Finally Zhang Bu was admitted to the famous Chung Yan Art Institute in Beijing where he studied under the master, Professor Li Keran.

Many years of study and travelling the length and breadth of his homeland, painting its scenes, led to Zhang Bu being declared a 'National Treasure of China'.

Zhang Bu now lives in Victoria, Canada, where he continues his work from his comfortable home.

Several art books on the work of Zhang Bu have been published. His latest book, to be published soon in Beijing will include a biography written by eminent author, Alistair Macduff, who accompanied Zhang Bu on a tour of China, gathering information for his writings.