Artist Profile

Xiaohong Zhang is a multidisciplinary artist and tenured professor of Game Design and Media Art Development at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. With a multicultural background and training in traditional Chinese painting, drawing, oil painting, and graphic design, she combines Chinese paper-cutting traditions with digital technologies to create intricate, large-scale artworks. Her practice bridges Eastern and Western visual languages, exploring the intersections of history, politics, cultural identity, and contemporary society. Initially focused on personal narratives, Zhang’s work has evolved to address broader historical and geopolitical issues, particularly the human consequences of war and the tensions between cultures and global powers. Through layered compositions and symbolic imagery, she examines how historical memory shapes contemporary perspectives. Since 2000, her work has been presented in more than 100 national and international exhibitions. Her honors include the John Michael Kohler Artist-in-Residence Award and recognition in national art competitions in the United States.