Zhi Ding depicts moments of vulnerability through scenes that represent different emotional states. By creating a connection that prompts empathetic responses, Ding simulates an intimate experience one might have with a cherished photograph or memento. Growing up in Jiujiang, China, Ding found inspiration in the constant ebb and flow of boats traversing its bustling port, which would soon symbolize her innate yearning for escapism and deeper connections. As such, boats and the moon are two recurring elements that connect this suite of paintings. Ding subtly employs contrasting glossy and matte surfaces, signifying distinct planes within a unified pictorial field. Armed with a delicate and poetic painting style, Ding addresses our shared, complex human emotions through these simple yet ambiguous compositions.

Zhi Ding was born in 1992 in Jiujiang, China, and lives in New York City, NY. She earned her MFA in painting and drawing (2023) and her post-baccalaureate in painting and drawing (2021) from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, IL.

Ding has mounted a solo show at Arsenal Contemporary in New York City, NY (2023).

She was the recipient of the Enrichment Scholarship (2022) and the Incentive Scholarship (2021), both awarded by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, IL, and was named a finalist for the New American Painting Prize (2022).