Ni Zhu / 朱妮

by | Feb 6, 2025 | blogpost

Colors of Memory / 记忆的色彩

“Colors of Memory” by Bay Area based and award-winning oil painter Ni Zhu celebrates Chinese New Year, highlighting past and present, and nostalgia and hope, all intertwined with the importance of culture and the joy of tradition. 

“We invite you to immerse yourself in the vibrant colors and rich cultural heritage at IAMA Galleries. Celebrate the Chinese New Year with us and experience the joy and inspiration that art brings. We welcome visitors to enjoy the exhibition, showcasing the timeless beauty and cultural significance of this festive season.”

  • KC Hsieh, President of IAMA

SAN FRANCISCO, January 20th, 2025 – The International Art Museum of America (IAMA) is excited to announce our first gallery exhibition of 2025: Colors of Memory by Ni Zhu. 

About the artist:

Ni Zhu is an award winning oil painter based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She grew up in a small town in South China, then went on to study law at Beijing University. She pursued graduate studies in the United States and Canada. Ni Zhu fell in love with painting, and her path led to a career change, where she honed her passion by attending classes at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and taking workshops with master painters. She ultimately earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in 2020.

Ni is a signature member of Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society, and an artist member of the California Art Club. She is represented by Reinert Fine Art in Charleston, SC.

Read more about Ni Zhu and see all of her accolades here. 

Read the Media Report from Sing Tao USA here

Colors of Memory, which celebrates the Chinese New Year, will be on view in IAMA’s Lightspace Gallery until March 1st, 2025. 

Chinese New Year is a celebration of renewal, family, and tradition – three things that have shaped the inspiration behind the artworks of the exhibition and Ni Zhu’s own journey as an artist. The inspiration for Colors of Memory came from Zhu’s personal experiences during the Chinese New Year, both in her hometown and in San Francisco. Zhu notes that the Chinese New Year Parade—particularly the first one she attended in 2005— “felt like a warm embrace” in a new and unfamiliar place and also inspired many of the works in the series. After the Parade and public celebrations were cancelled or minimized during the years of the pandemic, Zhu was moved to express her feelings in her art when celebrations finally returned in 2023. 

This year, Chinese New Year begins on Wednesday, January 29th. The Spring Festival, which celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar, marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring with a multitude of lively traditions and celebrations. Visitors viewing Colors of Memory at the IAMA will be immersed in detailed paintings that depict popular elements of the Spring Festival such as dragon and lion dancing, lanterns, firecrackers, and wearing red, a traditional color symbolizing good fortune and prosperity.

Ni Zhu, Girl with the Paper Dragon, oil on panel, 16 x 12 in.

Within the medial room of the galley, a selection of works devoted entirely to Chinese New Year in San Francisco can be seen, and familiar landmarks and streets easily identified. More works related to Zhu’s travels and memories line the outer walls of the exhibition space.

There are 33 paintings on display, with each one telling its own story. For Zhu, Parade in the Rain (pictured below) is particularly significant. It is currently on display in the medial room of the gallery, amongst all the other works located in San Francisco, and was inspired by San Francisco’s first Chinese New Year Parade in 2023, after they were reinstated following the pandemic. Featuring a troupe of young dancers in traditional costume and carrying instruments, the group looks out towards the unseen audience—the viewer. Zhu intended to capture the joy, resilience, and the unity of people celebrating together in the rain.  Parade in the Rain captures a single moment amidst the celebrations where nostalgia of and hope are both evident. It is intended to be the closing statement for the series.

Ni Zhu, Parade in the Rain, oil on linen, 26 x 32 in.

Colors of Memory emphasizes the beauty of connection through time, space, and cultures, that regardless of viewers’ shared experiences ultimately reminds those about the importance of community and celebration. Zhu hopes that visitors will see themselves reflected in the artworks in any way, whether that is through culture, San Francisco, or even emotions, such as nostalgia, warmth, and resilience. 

To young artists who are navigating their own cultural identities and artistic paths, Zhu says: “Embrace your roots and your journey—they’re what make your voice unique. Don’t be afraid to explore your heritage or let it evolve as you grow. Take inspiration from your surroundings, but stay true to what moves you personally.” Young artists should also seek opportunities to share their art with the community, which in turn encourages creativity and celebrates cultural diversity. The International Art Museum of America will be hosting its annual International Art Youth contest in July, and submissions from around the world will be accepted and displayed to continue fostering talent and creativity in each younger generation. 

Colors of Memory will be on display at the International Art Museum of America until March 1st, 2025. 

From the International Art Museum of America:

“Thank you, Ni, for sharing your incredible talent and story with us. It’s an honor to celebrate your work here during the Chinese New Year. As a fellow Academy of Art University alum, it’s especially meaningful to connect with you and witness how art continues to inspire and unite us.

I invite everyone to explore Colors of Memory and reflect on the beautiful themes of nostalgia and hope. Thank you for joining us, and let’s continue celebrating the joy that art brings!”

  • Emilio Jimenez, Development Manager

We are so thrilled and honored to have Colors of Memory on display at the IAMA! It is a wonderful opportunity for visitors to see the collection and reflect upon what relates to them, whether that is joy in a rainy day, joy in a quiet walk through town, or witnessing a celebration of the new year. On behalf of the IAMA, I hope our galleries continue in connecting visitors through shared experiences and emotions. 

  • Hannah Taschek, Galleries Coordinator
Illuminating by Firefly Youth Network

Illuminating by Firefly Youth Network

by | Jan 12, 2024 | blogpost

January 6, 2024, International Art Forum of IAMA presented “Illuminating”

The International Art Museum of America (IAMA), located in downtown San Francisco’s Central Market area, held a day-long art, music, and fundraising event “Illuminating” on January 6. The event, conducted together with the Firefly Youth Network, was the first gathering of the museum’s International Art Forum for 2024. The day’s event included youth art exhibitions and performances of tea ceremony, calligraphy and music, and attracted a large crowd from local and international audiences. The President of the Museum, Mr. KC Hsieh, accompanied by several new members of the Museum’s board, including Professor Gregory Noble and Ms. YW Peng, and honored guests including Mr. Matt Dorsey, the City Supervisor of San Francisco’s District 6, jointly celebrated the event, marking a bright new beginning to year 2024!

The International Art Museum of America, praised as a “Hidden Jewel” of San Francisco by the late Mayor Ed Li, was established in 2010, with a mission to make art appreciation and education accessible to all. The museum covers over 25,000 sq. ft of permanent art galleries and temporary exhibition halls. Its collections include over 300 precious permanent art pieces by world-renowned artists from 12 countries, including Algeria, Belgium, China, England, France, Germany, Norway, and the United States, and spanning from the 16th Century to the present day. The museum has been an active member of the Central Market community, providing art programs for schools and local communities, as well as serving as a global forum for appreciating art and culture. The 16 styles of art works exhibited by one artist, H. H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, are unprecedentedly striking in their wide variety of techniques, media, and subject matter. In the gallery of Professor Yuhua Shouzhi Wang, the lifetime Chairperson of IAMA, who had a Solo Exhibition in the Palace Museum of the Louvre, Paris, in 2019, visitors are able to gain a comprehensive view of her highly praised artwork.  

This first International Art Forum “Illuminating” was brought forth by a youth artists group from Canada called Firefly Youth Network (FYN), whose mission is to apply their artistic talents to ignite positive changes in the community. The President, Gabriel Wang, was brought to the museum 10 years ago when he was only a young boy and was deeply moved by its humane mission. Today, as a16 year-old musician, he said, “I am very proud to bring my teammates in the Firefly Youth Network to come and perform at IAMA. This is very meaningful to me personally, to be able to contribute to fundraising to sustain this mission that I deeply share, to spread art to all.” The talents of the young artists and performers were fully exhibited in paintings from oil, brush, and ink, and from computer generated to abstract to cartoons. Musical performances included opera, instrumental performances, rap, comedy, and more. Illuminating the museum with their individual talents like glittering fireflies, together they heralded a bright future for the community! The day’s event successfully raised $29,000 for the museum’s continuing efforts to promote art and education.

The Firefly Youth Network’s dedication to using art to fulfill social responsibilities highlights the significance of the young generation’s contribution to society. With its International Art Forum program, International Art Museum of American is paving the way for the advancement of art by nourishing the talents of future generations.

For the KTSF report on the event, please click the following link: https://www.ktsf.com/2024/01/09/international-art-museum/