Matt Nianzhang Liu
[New York, United States]
Art Yourself Atelier is pleased to present a distinctive online solo exhibition showcasing the profound artistic innovation of Matt Nianzhang Liu, an ascending artist from United States.
Artist's Biography
Matt Nianzhang Liu is an artist born and raised in Shenyang, China, based in New York New York. Matt holds a Master’s degree from CUNY Brooklyn College and a Bachelor’s from the LuXun Academy of Fine Arts. Liu’s work is based on a practice of casual observance and sensitive composition, inspired by the different places he has lived in over the past several years. Much of his work addresses the suffering and loss brought on by the convergence of cultures through globalization and urbanization. Through capturing simple moments in time and space, he traces the cultural fusion and de-regionalization created by the movement of people across cities. In each case, he photographs everything he can see, studying the formal characteristics that bridge specificity and familiarity in a person or place. In the end, Liu hopes that the audience can once again browse the things around them through his observation of their surroundings, no matter whether it's familiar or not.
He had solo exhibitions titled ‘Out of Existence; at Ten Minutes Art Space, Shenyang, 2018; And his work Choices was in the group exhibition LUSCIOUS RELICE at Palazzo Velli Eventi EXPO, Roma, 2018; Group Exhibition ‘Light Conversation Vol.3’, Oregon Contemporary, 2022. Also, his work was shown in LAFA Gallery, SCAD Gallery, Smack Mellon, the RHAA Chicago, etc. As a photojournalist his report of Chinese communities during the pandemic in New York, “New York! New York!” was published by SOHU Polar- Day News Studio, in 2020.
About the Solo Exhibition
This exhibition is made up of four sections of works that each represent how I view the world around me, so the viewer can understand my perspective more fully. At the same time, all of my works show not only the world as I see it but also as a reflection of the way I see it. There are macroscopic observations of the world, as well as detailed descriptions of the details of life; there are calm and objective records, as well as the original impulse for photography; there are observations of things around me, as well as recordings of the relationship between anyone and anyone.
His Work Experience
2021-Current
Taking photos of the performance and rehearsal of the group. Documenting their social justice activities.
Queens, NY, 2019-Current
Teaching painting and drawing tech to students. I am helping students with their college applications. Also, I developed the Ceramic and photography lessons for the studio.
NY, US, 2021-Current
I am taking photos of art tours through galleries and museums in NYC organized by ARTRA NYC.
Shanghai, China，2017-2019
Design the painting programs for both children and adults. Mostly oil paintings and sketches. Teach the skills of drawing and photography technology.
Shanghai, China, 2016-2017
Build and run the whole prototype group for the company
Shanghai, China, 2015-2016
Design and make the prototype for the wax lost glass. Cooperate with Disneyland and Johnny Walker.
His Past Art Exhibition Experience
《David》, Sketch, Collected by the sculpture department of LAFA, Shenyang, China, 2012
《Living Like Summer Flowers》, Sculpture, LAFA Gallery, Shenyang, 2015
《INFINITY》, Video, ‘Opening Night’, SCAD Gallery, Atlanta, US, 2016
《Jet Lag》, Photography, SCAD Gallery, Atlanta, US, 2017
《Choices》, Photography, ‘LUSCIOUS RELICE’, Palazzo Velli Eventi EXPO, Roma, Italy, 2018.
《Out of Existence》, Solo Photography Exhibition, Ten Minutes Space, Shenyang, China. 2018
《Do Not Ask Me Where Is It》, 《Self Portrait》, Photography, Brooklyn College MFA Opening Studio Night, Brooklyn, US, 2019
《CoronaVirus Is Not A Racist》, Digital Collage, Online Show ‘1000 Hours of Outrage’, 2020
《Wear A Mask If You Do Not Support Me!》, Digital Collage, Online Show ‘1000 Hours of Outrage’, 2020
《People from the Back》, 《Do Not Ask Me Where Is It》, 《Self Portrait》, Photography, ‘An Unofficial Gathering’ Group Exhibition, Smack Mellon, NY, US, 2021
《Self Portrait》, Photography, Group Exhibition ‘Almost End’, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art Altoona, Altoona, PA, US, 2021
《Tropicana》, Digital Painting, Group Exhibition ‘A New York to Wear 3.0’, The Research House of Asian Arts, Chicago, IL, US, 2021
《Self Portrait》, Photography, Group Exhibition ‘Coping Reservoir’, The Box Factory Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, US, 2021
《Do Not Ask Me Where Is It》, Photography, Group Exhibition ‘Link Future’, SIA NYC, NY, US, 2022 《Around the Chaos》, Photography, Photo Independent Visual Art Fair, Online, 2022
《Serise Life Portrait》, Photography, Photo Independent Visual Art Fair, Online, 2022
《Self Portrait》, Photography, Group Exhibition ‘Collective Rage’, Oregon Contemporary, Portland, US, 2022
《Around the Chaos》, Photography, Group Exhibition ‘Light Conversation Vol.3’, Oregon Contemporary, Portland, US, 2022
《Around the Chaos》, Photography, Group Exhibition ‘8x12’, Floor Gallery, Seoul, Korea, 2022
《Around the Chaos》, Photography, Group Exhibition 'Wasteland', BanShan Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 2022
《Portraits of Serious Life》, Photography, Group Exhibition ‘Light Conversation Vol.4’, Oregon Contemporary, Portland, US, 2023
His Education Experience
LuXun Academy Of Fine Arts — BA, 2015. Majored in Fine Art (Sculpture)
New York University of New York Brooklyn College — MFA, 2021. Majored in Fine Art( Photography)
His Awards/Grants/Scholarships
Schaffer, Frances R. Jellinek’56 and Hal’56 Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship, 2020, 2021 Cerf Scholarship in Art, 2019, 2020, 2021
New York Artist Corps Grants, New York Foundation of Art, 2021
NYC Arts in Education Roundtable Fund, 2022
His Publication
《Glimpse on Chinese Americans——New York, New York》, News Report, Published by Polar Day News Studio, SOHU.
《Parking Lot》, Photography, Collected by China Photo Almanac 2018-2019, P371.
《Start in a Place: The Tonnele Jut》, Documentary Photography, Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir, NJ, US, 2021
《Nianzhang Liu-Do Not Ask Me, ‘Where Is It?’》, BROAD Magazine, 2021