Kun Zhao is a multidisciplinary artist and educator whose life and work revolve around the belief that art can transform how we see the world. Growing up in China, she was introduced to art by her father, a painter and calligrapher who encouraged her to observe and appreciate the beauty in everyday life. This early influence shaped her artistic sensibility and instilled in her a deep respect for tradition, even as she later sought to challenge and reinterpret it in her own practice.
Kun’s academic path has been integral to her growth as an artist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education, an M.A. in Printmaking, and an M.F.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she focused on Printmaking and Material Expression. These experiences gave her both the technical foundation and the conceptual framework to explore the boundaries of art and its role in society. Her achievements include awards in watercolor and etching, and her works have been collected by institutions like Shijiazhuang University as well as private collectors, affirming her creative vision and its resonance with audiences.
In her art, Kun is drawn to overlooked materials and everyday objects, transforming them into works of beauty and meaning. Her Rose Window series is a prime example, where discarded plastic packaging—snack wrappers, drink labels, and other waste—becomes intricate compositions inspired by cathedral stained-glass windows. By using materials often dismissed as trash, Kun invites viewers to reflect on the environmental costs of consumer culture and challenges the traditional hierarchy between “high” and “low” art. The result is a striking juxtaposition of beauty and waste, drawing attention to both the fragility of the natural world and the potential for renewal.
Kun’s work is not confined to the studio or gallery; it extends into the classroom, where she has spent over 15 years teaching. As a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor and Director of Fine Art Foundation Courses at Zhuhai College of Jilin University, she led students in exploring the relationship between materials, design, and meaning. Now teaching Mandarin to elementary school students in the United States, she continues to find joy in connecting with young minds and fostering cross-cultural exchange. For Kun, teaching is as much about learning as it is about instruction—a space where dialogue and curiosity thrive.
Her art has been exhibited in venues ranging from the Chinese Culture Visual Art Exhibition at Hinsdale Library to the Emerging Artist Program at 4C Gallery in San Gabriel and Color Gallery in Chicago. Each exhibition has allowed her to share her perspective on the intersections of art, culture, and environmental awareness with a broader audience. Alongside her exhibitions, she has received recognition for her innovative approach to education, earning awards and grants that highlight her contributions to both art and teaching.
Looking ahead, Kun remains committed to exploring the connections between sustainability, art, and community. Through her work, she continues to challenge the systems and habits that shape modern life while inspiring others to find beauty and meaning in unexpected places. For Kun Zhao, art is not just a form of expression—it is a way of seeing, questioning, and reimagining the world.
