As the first contribution to the “Chinese New Art” series on the latest generation of Chinese artists, edited by the renowned art historian Lu¨ Peng, this book focuses on the rising star Zhang Zhaoying (b. 1988), whose work blends influences from the Renaissance, European modern art and the avant-garde movements. Drawing on the evolution of Chinese painting since the 1980s, his art spans Realism, Impressionism, Expressionism, Surrealism, and Pop Art, yet breaks away from traditional frameworks to create a distinctive methodology marked by both free technique and controlled execution. His diverse visual language reflects China’s rapid transformation and captures the contradictions of modern life, offering a complex, multifaceted narrative that transcends personal storytelling.