ZHENG LU China , b. 1978

CAPTURING WATER IN METAL

Based in Beijing, the artist is internationally recognized for monumental stainless-steel sculptures that capture the fleeting movement of water suspended in time. Though industrial in material, the works convey remarkable fluidity and embody the vital energy — qi — central to Chinese philosophy.

His large-scale installations are featured in public spaces worldwide, including Undercurrent (2023), a 20-foot-tall sculpture installed near the United Nations in New York. Additional major commissions include a work for a luxury residential plaza in Jersey Island and an upcoming outdoor sculpture for Elanco Corporation in Indiana.

Rooted in traditional Chinese philosophy and calligraphy, his sculptures are composed of thousands of meticulously welded Chinese characters drawn from classical texts. Water remains a central theme — symbolizing transformation, reflection, and the passage of time.

He studied at the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang, completed an MFA at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, and continued his studies at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris.