The donation ceremony is held at the Chinese Academy of Art in Hangzhou on April 9. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

The China Academy of Art (CAA) in Hangzhou received a landmark donation of 213 early works by renowned artist Zao Wou-Ki from his family on April 9, marking the symbolic return of his artistic roots to where his journey began 90 years ago.

The donated pieces – oil paintings, prints, and porcelain – were created during Zao's early years at the National Hangzhou Art School (now CAA), where he enrolled at age 15 and later taught before moving to France in 1948. Among the works are Untitled (Still Life) (1935), his earliest known oil painting, and My Home in Hangzhou (1947), reflecting his deep ties to West Lake and the city's culture.

The donation follows the success of the 2023 retrospective exhibition titled Zao Wou-Ki: The Boundless Road, which attracted over 250,000 visitors and became a cultural phenomenon in Asia. In recognition of the exhibition's impact, Zao's widow, Francoise Marquet-Zao, and the Zao Wou-Ki Foundation formalized the donation and announced the establishment of a Zao Wou-Ki Research Center at CAA.

This donation fills a gap in China's public art collections, which previously held no oil paintings by Zao. It also strengthens China's role in global art history and affirms CAA's mission to foster international dialogue through art.

Untitled (Still Life) (1935), Zao's earliest known oil painting. [Photo/zaowouki.org]