Woo Nancy

1941, Guangzhou China

Introduction

Nancy Woo, one of Hong Kong`s remarkable contemporary female artists, distinguishes herself by the ever-evolving nuances even with her own highly unique East-West style.

Born in Guangzhou, then raised in Hong Kong, Nancy`s early training in painting was under the tutelage of the renowned Lingnan Schoolmaster Zhao Shao-ang. Nancy then left Hong Kong to pursue her art studies in the US - at Cornell University (BA) and Columbia University (MA) - and hence developed her appreciation for Western styles of art as well, building upon her base of classical Chinese artistic sensibilities. She did not return to Hong Kong for 14 years until 1973; which has since then been her home. When she first moved to Hong Kong, Nancy eased into the local art world as a lecturer in the Fine Arts department at the University of Hong Kong, before opening her own studio a few years later and switching back to pursue her real interest: creative painting. Her technique was further honed under the guidance of Lingnan Master Yang Sanshen; her inspirations are from her glocal travels to far-flung destinations, and the end product is distinctively her own.

Nancy Woo has held solo exhibitions in China, Canada, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the United States.


BIOGRAPHY

1941     Borrn in Guangzhou, China
1950s    Studied Chinese ink painting under Lingnan School master Zhao Shao-ang
1960s    Studied fine arts at Cornell University, New York, USA
1963     Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Cornell University, New York, USA
1964     Master of Arts Degree from Columbia University, New York, USA
1973     Returned to live and work in Hong Kong. She has taught in the Department of Fine Arts of The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Arts Centre
1982     Studied Chinese ink painting under Lingnan School master Yang Sanshen
1986     First time to show her Chinese ink works
1987     First solo exhibition
Present Lives in Hong Kong

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2011

  • Colour‧Ink‧Nancy Chu Woo, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

2009

  • Luminous Colours and Resonant Ink: Nancy Chu Woo, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China
  • Colours and Ink in Harmony: Nancy Chu Woo, Guangzhou Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China

2007

  • Coloratura: Nancy Chu Woo, University Museum and Art Gallery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  • The Art of Nancy Chu Woo, Parliament House, Ottawa, Canada

2005

  • Lightness of Form, Peter Bartlow Gallery, Chicago, USA

2001

  • Nancy Chu Woo: Songs of the Earth, Wetterling Teo Gallery, Singapore

1999

  • Recent Paintings: Nancy Chu Woo, Peter Bartlow Gallery, Chicago, USA

1997

  • Paintings by Nancy Chu Woo, Guangzhou Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China

1994

  • Paintings by Nancy Chu Woo, Stein Bartlow Gallery, Chicago, USA

1993

  • The Emerging Harmony of Forms: Nancy Chu Woo, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

1989

  • Beyond Ink and Colour: Paintings by Nancy Chu Woo, Chinese Culture Institute, Boston, USA

  • Works on Paper: Paintings by Nancy Chu Woo, Art Triform Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan

1988

  • Silent Poetry: Chinese Paintings by Nancy Chu Woo, Ruschman Gallery, Indianapolis, USA

1987

  • Nancy Chu Woo: Drawings and Paintings of the Human Figure, Department of Fine Arts, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2020

2016

  • Ink Asia 2016, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong

2008

  • Summer Exhibition, Cadogan Contemporary, London, UK

  • Alumni Exhibition, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, New York, USA

2003

  • 3rd Chinese National Oil Painting Exhibition, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China

2001

  • Contemporary Collection, Burton Street Gallery, London, UK

1991

  • Six Contemporary Chinese Women Artists, Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco, San Francisco, USA

1989

  • Art Exhibition in Commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of New Asia College, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

1988

  • Asian Exhibition of Watercolours, International Centre, Osaka, Japan

  • Contemporary Chinese Paintings: Works on Paper, East-West Gallery, Chicago, USA

1987

  • Cornell Artists Exhibition, Amerika Haus, Cologne; Stuttgart; Munich; Frankfurt; Hanover; Dusseldorf, Germany

  • Ten Years of Hong Kong Paintings, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

  • Selected Watercolours by Asian Artists, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan

1982

  • Experimental Watercolours, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

 

SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Guangdzhou Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China
Guanghua Chang'an Building, Beijing, China
Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong
University Museum and Art Gallery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Conrad Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel, Hong Kong