The master of erotic hyperrealism, Guan Zezui: the path from a disgraced painter to the heights of fame (18 photos)
Artist Guan Zezui has lived in the United States for over three decades. However, he is extremely popular in his home country, and his exhibitions are a great success. He also has many fans online, but is known by the name Guan Zeju, a European style. The artist works in a hyperrealist style, creating remarkable female portraits. 
Today, Guan Zezui is known as the artist of paintings that celebrate the beauty of the female body, including the nude. But this was not always the case. The artist began his creative journey very early, at the age of 11. He is often called a child prodigy, as even as a child, Guan painted highly technical and striking canvases. 
Of course, living in socialist China, Zezui created distinctive paintings. His works were dedicated to the labor and scientific achievements of the Chinese people, as well as to party leaders. While still a student at the Guangzhou Academy of Painting, he became famous for his monumental painting "Mao Zedong in the Jinggang Mountains." This painting, commissioned by the Chinese Communist Party, is now on display at the Nanchang Museum. 
Years in Exile
After graduating from university with honors, the talented artist found himself unclaimed. At the time, the Cultural Revolution was raging in China, and artists were viewed with suspicion. Despite his service to the Party, Zezui found himself in disgrace. To avoid a labor camp, he and his wife, a famous ballerina, moved to Hainan Island. 
Now it's a heavenly resort destination, but back then, Hainan was a backwater. The artist continued to work there, while his wife danced with similarly "unreliable" ballerinas. During this period, Guan Zezui created his best paintings dedicated to ballet. 
In the early 1980s, attitudes toward creative people in China became more tolerant. Guan Zezui even participated in the Sixth National Art Exhibition in Beijing. His paintings "Huaqiao Girl Picking Cocoa Fruits" and "Cacao Garden" won prizes. In 1985, "The Composer" and "Violinist in Black" were selected for the National Oil Painting Exhibition. They then traveled to Germany, to be exhibited at the Dodmont Art Exchange, where the artist's works took first place. 
Worldwide Fame
From this point on, Zezui began to be invited to exhibitions around the world. His paintings were admired in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Sacramento, San Francisco, Berlin, and Paris. In China, the master received a position as a senior artist at the Guangzhou Academy of Painting and later became a member of the China Artists Association. 
His career then continued to flourish. Guan Zezui was elected director of the Guangdong branch of the China Artists Association and deputy secretary general of the Guangdong Oil Painting Research Association. In 1989, the renowned artist went to lecture at the University of California, Sacramento. The master was offered the opportunity to remain in the United States, and he accepted. 
Despite his decision to settle overseas, the artist is not considered a traitor in China. Guan Zezui frequently visits his homeland to lecture and exhibit. He says that he cannot tear himself away from his homeland, since only it gives him true inspiration. 
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